IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


m  m 

^  1^ 


M 

12.0 

1.8 


U    II!  1.6 


P 


^d 


e 


/a 


/a 


# 


■/f^ 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


.,^^ 


C^^ 


4^ 


1^ 


f§ 


C> 


^ij 


23  WEST  MMN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  87:  ".503 


f^^v 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  f\?ay  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


D 


D 

D 


n 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  coulaur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicul^e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  g^ographiques  en  couleur 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

rri    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avoc  d'autres  documents 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serree  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  interieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  th?  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajout6es 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  ^tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  dt6  film6es. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppldmentaires; 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mithode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


r~~\    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculdes 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


^ 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d^color^es,  tachetdes  ou  piquees 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachees 


v/ 


Showthrough/ 
Transparence 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 


Quality  indgaie  de  ('impression 

Includes  supplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


0 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  film6es  d  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film^  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


T 


y 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Legislature  du  Quebec 
Quebec 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grica  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  da: 

Legislature  du  Quebec 
Qu6bec 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6x6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  fiimd,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
fiimage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimie  sont  fiim^s  en  commen^ant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  fiimis  en  commenqant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  chaque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  —^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbols  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmte  6  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  ndcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
iliustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

Ct^v 


^/ 


i 


1 


\'!T 


N'  E  V 


■1    Or    .NKW    ! 


AN't)   AIW01N.'\ 


§5"      -<■  ■        ■,'.       /j 


WL 


k,::K4'A 


iratiDits  of  n- 


.-■r  Sfjp. 


."^iSuifg 


smw^ 


^^fS^^.  ;3»^*6iw»4i^  i  <i:>1'^y 


/it 


ORl 


FULL    DE; 


'•»*K;  . 


f   '   •    -    -^ 


'ii^    s'-T^-.-.f^!"  ■ 


A  COMPLE 


Ellustta 


■/v 


I'..    :a-  srii'^i^y; 


ou 


^ti- 


ORNITIIOLOGY  AND  OOLOGY 


ov 


NEW   ENGLAND: 


CONTAIXINO 


FDLL    DESCRIPTIONS    OF    THE    BIRD8    OF    NEW    ENGLAND.    AND    ADJOINING 

STATES  AND  PIIOVINCES,  ARRANGED  BY  A  LONG-APPROVED 

CLASSIFICATION  AND  NOMENCLATURE; 

TOGKTIIKII  WITH 

^  """''""r^,  "'f™'"'  ""^  '"'''"'  "^''"^'  -ri-^'J^S  OF  AKRIYA.,  AND  DEPARTURE 
IIIEIR  DISTRinCTION.    FOOD,   SOXO,    T.MK  OF    I.RKKO.NU,   AND  ' 

A    CAREFUL    AND     ACCURATE     DKSCRIPTION 
OF    THEIR    NESTS    AND    EGGS; 

WITH 

Ellusttattons  of  tnang  Species  of  tf,c  ISirJs,  anlr  accurate  JFiguceB 

of  tfjctv  Eggs. 


By  EDWARD  A.   8AMUELS, 

OtTRATOR  OF  ZOOLOGY  IN  THK   MASSACHUSETTS   STATE  CABINET. 


BOSTON: 
NICHOLS  AND  NOTES, 

117,  Washington  Street. 
18G7. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congrcsg,  in  the  year  1807,  by 
EnwAito  A.  Samukls, 
in  the  Clerk's  OlHce  of  the  l)i;<triot  Court  of  tlie  District  of  Massaciiusetts. 


!      > 


CAMBUIDGIS: 

STEREOTYPED     AND     PUINTED      BY 

JOHN    WILSON    AND    SON. 


PREFACE. 


In  presenting  this  volume  to  tlie  public,  I  would  say  that 
my  chief  aim  in  its  preparation  has  been  to  supply  the  great 
demand  for  some  work  that  might  be  accessible  to  all,  both 
in  consequence  of  its  moderate  price  and  its  plain,  untech- 
nical  language. 

The  want  of  such  a  volume  is  keenly  appreciated  by  our 
students  in  this  interesting  branch  of  natural  history ;  and, 
as  all  the  editions  of  the  valuable  and  popular  works  of 
Wilson  and  Nuttall  are  out  of  print,  it  has  long  been 
almost  entirely  unsupplied. 

I  have  been  able,  from  my  own  observations,  to  correct 
some  important  errors  that  have  been  published  as  to 
the  breeding  habits  of  different  species,  and  have  added, 
probably,  a  few  new  facts  to  our  knowledge  respecting 
those  of  others  ;  but  I  must  apologize  for  being  obliged,  in 
a  great  many  cases,  to  use  the  observations  of  others  for 
facts  which  I  have  had  no  opportunity  of  ascertaining 
myself. 

I  am  greatly  indebted  to  Professor  Spencer  F.  Baird,  of 
Washington,  for  his  generous  permission  to  use  the  descrip- 
tions of  the  birds  given  by  him  in  the  ninth  volume  of 

[iii] 


"  PHKPACB. 

tho  Pacific  Railroad  Reports,  and  for  some  valuatilo  s[)oci- 

mons  with  whicli  lio  furiiiHiied   mo    for  descriptions   and 

figures.     I  also  take  this  occasion  to  return  my  thanks  to 

Hon.  James  S.  Orcnnell,  of  Washington,  and  J.  P.  I^orris, 

of  Philadel[)Iiia,  for  tho  use  of  many  valuable  cuts  of  birds  ; 

and  to  George  A.  Boardnian,  Esq.,  of  ^niltown,  Me.,  John 

Kridcr,  of  Philadelphia,  Thure  Kumlien,  of  Albion,  Wis., 

J.   A.   Allen,  of  Springfield,  Jlass.,   William    Couper,  of 

Quebec,  Lower  Canada,  Henry  A.  Purdie,  of  Boston,  and 

J.  Gr.  Rich,  of  Upton,  Me.,  for  many  interesting  specimens, 

and  much  valuable  information. 

Great  credit  is  due  Messrs.  M.  M.  Tidd  and  Nathan 
Brown,  of  Boston,  for  tho  careful  and  accurate  manner 
in  which  they  have  illustrated  tho  eggs;  subjects,  as  is 
well  known,  exceedingly  difficult  to  figure,  particularly  on 
wood. 

To  Messrs.  John  Wilson  <fe  Son,  of  Cambridge,  lilass.,  my 
grateful  acknowledgments  are  made  for  their  indefatigable 
efforts  to  secure  an  elegant  and  perfect  typographical  exe- 
qutiou. 

The  imperfections  and  shortcomings  in  the  present  work 
are  too  apparent ;  but  they  are,  in  most  cases,  unavoidable, 
because  of  the  very  meagre  knowledge  that  we  have  of 
the  habits  of  many  of  our  birds,  and  the  confusion  that 
exists  in  the  nomenclature,  in  descriptions,  and  observations 
concerning  them  in  the  works  of  many  authors. 


E.  A.  s. 


Boston,  March  25,  1867. 


CONTENTS. 


ClIAnACTKmSTICS  OF  Ordek8 ^^"l 

ORDER  I.-RArTORES,  ROBBERS. 

Fiunlly  Falconidtu,  Falcons - 

Sub-Family  Falcoiiiiuc,  Fak-ons  proper .*    .'     '  7 

Atnpitriiuu,  Hawks '.     .  22 

Buteoninre,  Buzzard-IIawks .*.'.'  U 

Afjuiliiiw,  Ea<,'k's ]     '     '  49 

Family  Stri^^idiP,  Owi.s _- 

Sub-Family  Buhoniiiffi,  Horned  Owls   .....".'*."*'  (jO 

Syrniniu,  Gray  Owls !.*.'.'  71 

Nyeteininie,  Day  Owls .  77 

ORDER  II.-SCANSORES,   CLIMBERS. 

Family  Cueulida;,  Cuckoos o„ 

PicidiD,  Woodpeckers .*     *     '     '      87 

ORDER  III.  — INEESSORES,  PERCHERS. 

Sub-Order  Strisores 

Family  Trociiilidic,  Huumiing-Birds     •...!.'!!'*  no 

Cyp.selidic,  Swifts '.'.''  UC 

Caprimid<,ridie,  Goat-Suckers ''.'.'.'  IVJ 

Sub-Order  Clamatores,  Screamers •.."!.''  125 

Family  Alcedinidro,  Kingfishers  .     .     .  '*'',„. 

Coiopteridic,  Flycatchers jgg 

Sub-Family  Tyranninic,  Tyrant  Flycatchers  .....[     [     [  123 

Sub-Order  Oscines,  Singers "    .     . 

Family  Turdidre,  Thrushes ••*.'.*"**  145 

Sub-Family  MiminoB,  Mocking-Birds    ...'.*."!'*'  163 

Family  Saxicolidaj,  Rock-Inhabiters     ..........  n^ 

[V]" 


VI  CONTENTS. 

Family  Sylviidip,  Wood-lHlmhiU'rs 17m 

Piiriilu',  Titinicu 1H2 

Suh-Fiunily  Sittimu,  Niitliatclius 180 

Family  ("iTtiiiadio,  Oecpcrs lyo 

Trof^litdytidii',  Wrens I'jj 

SylvicolidiL',  Warlilors i[)<j 

Sub-Family  Motacillimi',  WiiHtudM i<j<j 

Sylvicolinu',  Wood-Wurblurs ,     ,  201 

'J'uii!if,'riiuu,  Tana^^crs 260 

Family  Iliniiidiiiiilu',  Swallown 234 

IJoiahyfillidas  Chatterers 204 

l^aniidie,  Shrikes 208 

Sub-Family  Laiiiina*,  Sliriites  proper 2(>8 

VirooniiiK),  Vireos 270 

Family  Alamlidic,  Skylarks 280 

Friii;j;illidie,  Sced-Katers 283 

Sub-Family  Coceotliraustime,  Finches 283 

Spizelliiiie,  Sparrows 801 

rasserelliiue,  Buntings 825 

Family  Icteriduj f];(;j 

Sub-Family  Agelaeinie,  Starlings 885 

Icteriiiiu,  Orioles 340 

Quisealina*,  IJlaekbirds 850 

Family  Corvidaj,  Crows 866 

Sub-Family  Corvintc,  Crows  proper 855 

Garrulina;,  Jays 86i 

ORDER  IV.  — RASORES,   SCRATCIIERS. 

Sub-Order  Columbaj 373 

Family  Columbidtc,  Doves 373 

Sub-Order  Galliuic,  Game-Birds 878 

Family  Tetruonidie,  Grouse 878 

Perdieidffi,  Partridges 393 

ORDER  v.  — GRALLATORES,  WADERS. 

Sub-Order  Herodiones 898 

Family  Ardeida;,  Herons 398 

Sub-Order  Gralkc,  Siiore-Birds 412 

Family  Charadrida;,  Plovers 413 

Plialaropodida!,  Phalaropes 424 

Scolopacida;,  Snipes 426 


CONTENTS.  vii 

Fttinily  IIuMimtopotlHlic,  Oygter-Catchcrs 432 

KccurvirofttridH),  AvoioU 43(J 

Triliii  Trin^icus  .Siiii(l|iipcrii 44O 

Siil)-Fiiniily  'rotaiiiiiu',  Stilta 4f,i 

Family  Paliidicolm.     Swamp  IiiLabitoru 470 

Sub-Family  Ualliiiuo,  Hails 47O 

OUDEIl  VI.— NATATORES,  SWIMMERS. 

Siil)-Or(U'r  Ansores 480 

Family  Aiialiiliu 4gQ 

Sub-Family  C'y<j;ninu',  Swans 480 

AiiscriiuL',  (!t'o«« 481 

Anatimi;,  lliver-UuLks 487 

Fuli;,'u!iiin;,  Soa-Ducks 603 

Mcrj^iiuf,  Sheldrakes 525 

Family  Sulida",  Gannets 532 

Oraculidiij,  Cormorants ■ 534 

Laridu3,  Gulls 537 

Sub-Family  Lcstridiiia:',  Skua-Gulls 537 

Lariiuc,  Gulls  proper 539 

Steniintc,  Terns 546 

Sub-Order  Gaviio 552 

F'ainily  rroeellaridio,  I'etrolij 652 

Colymbidtc,  Divers 655 

Sub-Family  Colymbina3,  Loons 655 

Podlcipinffi,  Grebes 658 

Family  Alcidic 664 

Sub-Family  Alcinic,  Auks 564 

Urina;,  Guillemots 667 


I'l 


i 


A 

pres 

Nor 

as  j: 

char 

beca 

preli 

desc 

mem 

num 

to,  t 

my  ( 

istics 

John 

Totip 

I^awr 

pi-epa 

Iiistit 

In 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND    OOLOGY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

\  S  I  have  generally  adopted,  in  the  present  volume,  the 
XI.   system  of  classification,  and  the  nomenclature    &c 
presented  by  Professor  Baird  in  his  report  on  the  Birds  of 
North  America,  I  will  state  here,  that  I  have  given,  so  far 
as  possible,  his  own  remarks  in  the  explanations  of  the 
characteristics  of  the  different  orders,  families,  genera  &c 
because  they  are  expressed  in  the  most  concise  and  'com- 
preliensive  language  possible.     I  have  also  given  the  same 
descriptions  of  the  species  as  those  contained  in  the  above- 
mentioned  report,  because,  being  made  from  a  much  greater 
number   of  specimens   than  I  could  possibly  have  access 
to,  they   are   certainly  better   than  I  could   present  from 
my  own  observations.     The  descriptions  of  tl.e  charocter- 
ist.cs  of  the  Jiaptores,  the  Gmlla',  and  the  AlcUa^,  are  bv 
Jolm   Cassm,  of  Plilladelphia;    those  of  the  Lon.ij^ennls 
loUpalmes  and  Colymhidcc  wore  written  by  Mr.  GeoiCo  N 
Lawrence,  of  Now  York;   those  of  the  other  birds^vere 
pvepared  by  Professor  Spencer  P.  Baird,  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institute. 

In  order  that  the  descriptions  of  the  birds  in  the  follovv- 

[1] 


2 


INTRODUCTION. 


ing  pages  may  be  perfectly  understood,  I  give  the  subjoined 
cuts,  illustrating  and  explaining  them :  — 


A  represents  the  primary  quills,  usually  called  primaries. 

B  represents  the  secondary  quills,  usually  called  secondaries. 

C  spurious  wing. 

D  wing  coverts. 

E  tertiary  quills,  usually  called  tertiaries. 

F  rejjresents  the  throat. 

G  is  the  upper  part  of  the  throat,  called  the  jugulum. 

U  is  the  bill  orlieak:   this  is  divided  into  two  parts,  called  the  upper 

and  lower  niandil)les. 
I  is  the  frons,  or  forehead :    feathers  at  tiiis  point  are  called  frontal 

feathers. 
J  is  the  crown  :  featliers  here  are  called  coronal  feathers,  and  occipital. 
K  represents  the  scapular  featlu-rs. 

L  is  t'i  i  back :  feathers  here  are  sometimes  called  interscapular. 
M  represents  the  tarsus  :  called  shank  or  leg  sometimes. 
N  is  the  abdomen. 
O  is  the  rump. 

P  shows  the  upper  tail  coverts. 
Q  indicates  the  position  of  the  lower  tail  coverts. 


INTRODUCTION. 

R  shows  on  the  bill  the  culmen,  or  crown,  of  the 

upper  mandible. 
S  is  the  naked  skin  at  the  base  of  the  bill, 

called  the  cere. 
T  shows  the  position  of  the  lores  between  the 

eye  and  bill. 

U  indicates  the  gape  the  angle  at  the  junction  of  the  upper  and  lower 

_      nand,bles :  the  feathers  in  this  locality  are  called  rictal 
V  IS  the  commissure,  or  the  folding  edges  of  the  mandibles. 

Ill  addition  to  these  parts,  there  are  the  flanks  or  sides 
of  the  hu-d ;  tlie  pectus,  or  breast ;  tlie  flexure,  or  bend  of 
the  wmg ;  tlic  iris,  or  irides,  the  colored  circle  which  sur- 
rounds the  pupil  of  the  eye ;  and  the  toes  and  tibia  •  the 
lomier  are  sometimes  palniated,  as  with  the  swinuners,  or 
natatorcs;  and  the  latter  is  that  portion  next  above  the 
tarsus  on  the  leg. 


•s 


II 


SYN^OPSIS 


OF  TUB 


CHARACTERISTICS  OF  NORTH-AMERICAN  BIRDS. 


THE  following  synopsis  of  the  orders  of  birds,  taken 
partly  from  Keyserling  and  Blasius,  will  serve  to  illus- 
trate the  characteristics  of  the  higher  groups  in  American 
Ornithology :  — 

A.  —  Hind  Toe  on  the  same  Lkvel  with  the  Anterior 

ONES. 

a.  Posterior  face  or  the  sides  of  the  tarsus  more  or  less  reticu-. 
lated,  granulated,  or  with  scales  more  numerous  or  smaller  than 
in  front ;  sometimes  naked.  Anterior  ftice  of  the  tarsus  never  in 
one  unbroken  plate.     Larynx  without  complex  vocal  muscles. 

Order  I.  Raptores.  — ^  Base  of  the  upper  mandible  with  a 
soft  skin  or  cere.  Upper  mandible  compressed ;  its  point  curving 
down  over  that  of  the  lower,  forming  a  strong,  sharp  hook.  Claws 
generally  retractile.  Toes,  never  two  behind.  Birds  usually  of 
large  size  and  of  powerful  frame,  embracing  the  so-called  birds 
of  prey. 

Order  II.  Scansores.  —  Toes  in  pairs  ;  two  in  front  and  two 
behind  :  the  outer  anterior  being  usually  directed  backwards  ;  the 
inner,  in  TrogonldcR.     Tail-feathers  eight  to  twelve. 

Order  III.  Stuisoues.  —  Toes  either  three  anterior  and  one 
behind  (or  lateral),  or  four  anterior :  the  hinder  one  is,  however, 
usually  versatile,  or  capable  of  direction  more  or  less  laterally  for- 
ward. Tail-featlicrs  never  more  than  ten.  Primaries  always  ten ; 
the  first,  long. 


INTERIOR 


SYNOPSIS   OF  THE  5 

Order  IV.  Clamatores.  — Toes,  three  anterior  and  one  poa- 
tenor  (not  versatile).  Primaries  always  ten ;  the  first  nearly  as 
long  as  the  second.     Tail-feathers  usually  twelve. 

b.  Anterior  face  of  the  tarsus  in  one  continuous  plate,  or  divided 
transversely  into  large  quadrate  scales.  Plates  on  either  the  pos- 
terior  surface  of  the  tarsus  or  the  sides,  without  subdivisions,  never 
both  divided  together:  when  divided,  the  divisions  correspond 
with  the  anterior  ones.  Larynx  with  peculiar  complex  singing 
nuiscles. 

Order  V.  Oscines.  —  Toes,  three  anterior,  one  posterior. 
Primaries,  either  nine  only;  or,  if  ten,  the  first  usually  short  or 
spurious. 

B.  —  Hind  Toe  raised  above  the  Level  op  the  Rest. 

Order  VL  Rasores.  — Nostrils  arched  over  by  an  incumbent 
thick,  fleshy  valve.  Bill  not  longer  than  the  head,  obtuse  anteri- 
oriy.     Nails  broad,  obtusely  rounded. 

Order  VIL  Grallatores.  —  Legs  lengthened,  adapted  for 
walking,  naked  above  the  knee.  Nostrils  naked.  Thighs  usually 
quite  free  from  the  body.  Toes  not  connected  by  a  mmbrane,  or 
for  a  short  distance  only ;  sometimes  with  a  lobed  margin. 

Order  VIIL  Natatores.  —  Adapted  for  swimming.  Legs 
generally  short.  Toes  united  by  a  continuous  membrane.  Thighs 
mostly  buried  in  the  muscles  of  the  body. 


6 


CHARACTERISTICS  OP  NORTU-AMERICAN   BIRDS. 


I 


ORDER  I.  — RAPTORES.     Robbers. 

The  peculiarities  already  given  of  tlie  order  llaptores  are 
siifficient  to  define  it  among  tlio  others  mentioned,  although 
many  additional  features  might  be  named.  The  order  em- 
braces three  families,  which  are  characterized  by  Keyserling 
and  Blasius  as  follows :  — 

A,  —  Diurnal  Birds  of  Prey. 

Eyes  lateral,  with  lashes,  surrounded  by  a  naked  or  woolly  orbi- 
tal circle ;  tlie  feathers  above,  below,  and  behind  the  eyes  directed 
backwards,  as  on  the  rest  of  the  head  ;  anterior  to  the  eye,  the  lore 
imperfectly  clothed  with  a  radiating  star  of  bristles,  or  with  scale- 
like feathers.  The  iiuier  toe  without  the  nail,  shorter,  or  as  long 
as  tlie  outer.     Nostrils  opening  in  the  cere. 

VuLTURiDyE.  —  Bill  contracted  or  indented  on  the  anterior 
border  of  the  cere,  so  that  the  culraen  is  bow-shaped,  or  ascending 
anterior  to  it.  Eyes  lying  on  a  level  with  the  sides  of  the  head. 
Head  sparsely  covered  with  downy  feathers  only,  or  partially 
naked.  Claws  weak,  rather  slender,  and  only  moderately  curved ; 
tlie  tarsi  and  bases  of  the  toes  reticulated. 

Falconid^.  —  The  bill  not  contracted,  nor  the  culmen  ascend- 
ing anterior  to  the  cere.  Eyes  sunken.  The  head  completely 
covered  with  compact,  perfect  feathers.     Claws  strong. 

B.  —  Nocturnal  Birds  of  Prey. 

Strigid^.  —  Eyes  directed  forwards  ;  more  or  less  completely 
surrounded  by  a  crown  of  radiating  bristly  feathers.  Lores  and 
base  of  bill  densely  covered  with  bristly  feathers  directed  forwards. 
The  nostrils  opening  on  the  anterior  edge  of  the  cere.  The  inner 
toe  without  its  claw  longer  than  the  outer,  which  is  versatile.  A 
crown  of  peculiarly  formed  feathers  on  the  side  of  the  head  and 
above  the  throat.  Head  fully  feathered.  Plumage  very  soft 
and  downy. 


GREAT-FOOTED   HAWK. 


Family  FALCONIDiE. 

Sub-Family  Falconing.—  7%e  Falcons. 

FALCO,  Linnaeus. 

Falco,  LiNN^us,  Syst.  Nat.  L.  124  (1766). 

General  form  robust  and  compact.  Bill  short,  cim-ed  strongly  from  the  base  to 
the  point,  .^hich  is  very  sharp,  and  near  which  is  a  distinct  and  Kenerallv  prominent 
tooth;  nostrils  circular,  ,vith  a  central  tubercle;  wii.Ks  long,  pointed;  formed  for 
vigorous,  rapid,  and  long-continued  flight;  tail  rather  long  and  wide;  tarsi  short 
robust,  covered  with  circular  or  hexagonal  scales;  middle  toe  long;  claws  large' 
strong,  curved,  and  very  sharp.  ' 

FALCO  k'SklV^.- Bonaparte. 
The  Duck  Hawk ;  Great-Footed  Hawk. 
Falco  anatum,  Bonap.    Comp.  List,  p.  4  (1838). 
'' Falco  j^ereijrinus,"  Wilson,  Audubon,  and  other  authors. 

Desckiption. 

,.],/„/^_ Frontal  band  white;  entire  upper  parts  bluish-cinereous,  with  trans- 
verse bands  of  brownish-bhuk,  lighter  on  tlie  rump;  under  parts  vellowish-whitc, 
Willi  cordate  and  cir.'uiar  spots  of  black  on  the  breast  and  abdomen,  and  iransrersl 
hands  of  black  on  the  sides,  under  tail  coverts,  and  tibia;;  quills  and  tail  brownish- 
black,  the  latter  with  transverse  bars  of  pale  cinereous;  cheeks  with  a  patch  of 
hhick;  bill  light-blue;  tarsi  and  toes  yellow      Sexes  alike. 

yoa»r/e/-.  — Entire  upper  parts  i)rownish-black;  frontal  spot  obscure;  large 
space  on  the  cheeks  black;  under  parts  dull  yellowish-white,  darker  than  in  adult 
nud  with  lonyitwlinal  stripes  of  brownish-black;  tarsi  and  toes  bluish-lead  color' 
iris  hazel.  ' 

Total  length,  eighteen  to  twenty  inches;  wing,  fourteen  to  fifteen;  tail,  seven 
to  eight  inches.  1 

I  REGRET  that  I  am  unable  to  add,  from  my  own  knowl- 
edge, any  foots  in  relation  to  the  habits  of  this  bird,  to 
wliat  we  already  possess.  It  is  nowhere  a  common  species, 
and  I  have  had  no  0])portunities  of  observing  and  .studying 
its  characteristics.  It  seems  to  be  a  resident  of  New  Eng- 
land throughout  the  year,  and  is  oftener  found  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  sea-coast  than  in  the  interior.  It  is  a 
powerful  bird,  of  rapid  flight  and  great  boldness  and  cour- 

1  See  Introduction. 


8 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


■II 


age,  and  is  the  terror  of  the  water-fowl,  which  constitute  the 
greater  portion  of  its  prey.  The  hreeding  season  of  this 
species  is  very  early.  It  commences  building  the  nest 
usually  on  an  inaccessible  clilf,  by  the  first  of  April.  This 
is  constructed  of  twigs,  grasses,  and  sometimes  seaweeds. 
The  eggs  are  from  two  to  four  in  number:  their  form  is 
almost  spherical,  and  their  color  is  of  a  reddish-brown, 
covered  with  numerous  minute  spots  and  blotches  of  a 
darker  shade.  The  dimensions  of  the  only  two  specimens 
accessible  to  mo  at  present  are  1.90  inch  in  length  by  1.75 
in  breadth,  and  1.85  inch  in  length  by  1.72  inch  in  breadth. 
The  following  extracts  from  the  writings  of  different 
authors  comprise  the  most  interesting  observations  made 
of  this  species :  — 

«  The  flight  of  this  bird  is  of  astonishing  rapidity.     It  is  scarcely 
ever  seen  Tailing,  unless  after  being  disappointed  in  its  attempt  to 
secure  the  prey  which  it  had  been  pursuing;  and  even  at  such 
times  it  merely  rises,  with  a  broad  spiral  circuit,  to  attain  a  suffi- 
cient elevation  to  enable  it  to  reconnoitre  a  certain  space  below.    It 
then  emits  a  cry  much  resembling  that  of  the  sparrow-hawk,  but 
greatly  louder,  like  that  of  the  European  kestrel,  and  flies  off 
swiftly  in  quest  of  plunder.     The  search  is  often  performed  with  a 
fli^  resembling  that  of  the  tame  pigeon,  until,  perceiving  an  object, 
it  redoubles  its  flappings,  and  pursues  the  fugitive  with  a  rapidity 
scarcely  to   be   conceived.      Its  turnings,  windings,  and  cuttings 
through  the  air,  are  now  surprising.      It  follows  and  nears  the 
timorous  quarry  at  every  turn  and  back-cutting  which  the  latter 
attempts.     Arrived  within  a  few  feet  of  the  prey,  the  Falcon  is 
seen  protruding  his  powerful  legs  and  talons  to  their  full  stretch. 
His  wings  are,  for  a  moment,  almost  closed ;  the  next  instant,  he 
grapples  the  prize,  which,  if  too  weighty  to  be  carried  off  directly, 
he  forces  obliquely  toward  the  groiuid,  sometimes  a  hundred  yards 
from  where  it  was  seized,  to  kill  it,  and  devour  it  on  the  spot. 
Should  this  happen  over  a  large  extent  of  water,  the  Falcon  drops 
his  prey,  and  sets  off  in  quest  of  another.     On  the  contrary,  should 
it  not  prove  too  heavy,  the  exulting  bird  carries  it  off  to  a  seques- 
tered and  secure  place.     He  pursues  the  smaller  ducks,  water-hens, 


I 


GREAT-FOOTED   HAWK. 


9 


pecimons 
li  by  1.75 

breadth. 

different 
Dus  made 


is  scarcely 
attempt  to 
>n  at  such 
ain  a  suffi- 
below.  It 
-hawk,  but 
d  flies  off 
ned  with  a 
5  au  object, 
I  a  rapidity 
id  cuttings 

nears  the 
I  the  latter 
J  Falcon  is 
full  stretch. 

instant,  he 
iff  directly, 
idred  yards 
n  the  spot, 
alcon  drops 
:ary,  should 
to  a  seques- 
water-hens, 


i 


I 


.'ind  other  swimming  birds;  and,  if  they  are  not  quick  in  divin- 
seizes  them,  and  rises  with  them  from  the  water.  I  have  seen  thrs 
hawk  come  at  the  report  of  a  gun,  an.l  carry  off  a  teal,  not  thirty 
steps  distant  from  the  sportsman  who  had  killed  it,  with  a  daring 
assurance  as  surprising  as  unexpected.  This  conduct  has  been 
observed  by  many  individuals,  and  is  a  characteristic  trait  of  the 
species.  The  largest  hird  that  I  have  seen  this  hawk  attack  and 
graj)ple  with  on  the  wing  is  the  Mallard. 

"The  Great-footed  Hawk  does  not,  however,  content  himself 
with  waterfowl.  He  is  generally  seen  following  the  flocks  of 
pigeons,  and  even  blackbirds,  causing  great  terror  in  their  ranks, 
and  forcing  them  to  perform  aerial  evolutions  to  escape  the  .^rasp 
of  his  dreaded  talons.  For  several  days,  I  watched  one  of  "them 
that  had  taken  a  particular  fancy  to  some  lame  pigeons,  to  secure 
wind!  It  went  so  far  as  to  enter  their  house  at  one  of  the  holes 
seize  a  bird,  and  issue  by  another  hole  in  an  instant,  causin-  such 
terror  among  the  rest  as  to  render  me  fearful  that  they  would 
abandon  the  place.     However,  I  fortunately  shot  the  depredator. 

"Tliey  occasionally  feed  on  dead  fish,  that  have  floated  to  the 
shores  or  sand-bars.  I  saw  several  of  them  thus  occupied,  while 
descending  the  Mississippi  on  a  journey  undertaken  expressly  for 
the  puri.ose  of  observing  and  procuring  different  specimens  of 
birds,  and  which  lasted  four  months,  as  I  followed  the  windin-s 
of  that  great  river,  floating  down  it  only  a  few  miles  daily.  Durin., 
that  period,  I  and  my  companion  counted  upwards  of  fifty  of  these 
hawks,  and  killed  several;  one  of  which  was  found  to  contain  in  its 
stomach  bones  of  birds,  a  few  downy  feathers,  the  gizzard  of  a  teal 
and  tiie  eyes  and  many  scales  of  a  fish.  ' 

"  Wliilst  in  quest  of  food,  the  Great-footed  Hawk  will  frequently 
alight  on  the  highest  dead  branch  of  a  tree,  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
borhood of  such  wet  or  marshy  ground  as  the  common  snipe  resoHs 
to  by  preference.  His  head  is  seen  moving  in  short  starts,  as  if  he 
were  counting  every  little  space  below;  and,  while  so  enga-e.l,  the 
moment  he  espies  a  snipe,  down  he  darts  like  an  arrow,  makin-  a 
rustling  noise  with  his  wings,  that  may  be  heard  several  hundred 
yards  off,  seizes  the  snipe,  and  flies  away  to  some  near  wood  to 
devour  it. 

"It  is  a  cleanly  bird,  in  respect  to  feeding.     No  sooner  is  the 
prey  dead,  than  the  Falcon  turns  it  belly  upwards,  and  begins  to 


10 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


h: 


pluck  it  witli  liis  bill,  wliicli  lit>  does  very  oxportly,  lioliliiipf  it  menn- 
tiiiit!  qiiitu  I'a.st  in  lii^^  taloiiH ;  iiiiil,  an  Houii  m  a  portiuti  In  clearud  of 
foatluMf*,  tears  tlie  ticnU  in  large  pieces,  and  swullows  it  with  great 
avidity. 

"  If  it  is  a  large  bird,  he  leaves  the  refuse  parts ;  but,  if  small, 
swallows  the  whole  in  pieces.  Should  he  be  approached  by  au 
enemy,  he  rises  with  it,  and  flies  off  into  the  interior  of  the  woods ; 
or,  if  he  happens  to  be  in  a  meadow,  to  some  considerable  distance, 
ho  being  more  wary  at  such  times  than  when  he  has  alighted  ou  a 
tree."  —  Audubon. 

The  followiiif^  very  complete  description  of  tho  breeding 
habits  of  the  Great-footed  Hawk  is  from  tho  pen  of  J.  A. 
Alli'ii,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  one  of  our  most  enthusiastic 
students,  published  in  tho  "  Proceedhigs  of  the  Essex  Insti- 
tute," vol.  IV. :  — 

"  All  accounts  agree  that  the  nest  is  placed  on  almost  inaccessible 
cliffs ;  and  often  it  can  only  be  approached  by  a  person  being  let 
down  by  a  rope  from  above.  The  old  birds  are  represented  as  bold 
in  the  defence  of  their  nest,  approaching  so  near  as  generally  to  be 
easily  shot.  They  arrive  early  at  their  nesting-place ;  and,  though 
they  often  bestow  no  labor  in  the  construction  of  a  nest,  beyond  the 
scraping  of  a  slight  hollow  in  the  ground,  they  defend  their  chosen 
eyrie  for  wi  'ks  before  the  eggs  are  laid,  and  are  known  to  return 
for  several  years  to  the  same  site.  Incubation  commences  very 
early,  the  young  having  been  found  in  the  nest  at  Mount  Tom,  May 
30,  nearly  fledged,^  and  on  Talcott  Mountain,  in  the  same  condi- 
tion, June  1 ;  so  that  the  laying  of  the  eggs  must  occur  by  the  last 
of  March,  or  very  early  in  April.  The  number  of  eggs  has  been 
known  in  several  instances  to  be  four. 

"  Mountains  Tom  and  Ilolyoke,  in  Massachusetts,  afford  several 
localities  favorable  for  the  nidiiication  of  the  Duck  Hawk ;  and 
sometimes  several  pairs,  and  probably  usually  more  than  one,  breed 
about  these  mountains.-    About  the  last  of  May,  1803,  Mr.  Bennett 

1  According  to  R.  B.  Hildretli,  Esq.,  of  Springlield,  who  visited  this  nest  May 
30,  1861,  and  noted  the  fact.  The  nest  on  Talcott  Mountain,  Conn.,  was  found  the 
same  season,  and  first  visited  only  a  few  daj's  later,  —  about  June  1,  1861. 

2  Since  the  above  was  written,  I  have  been  informed  by  Mr.  liennett,  that  a 
pair  of  those  hawks  actually  raised  their  young  on  Mount  Tom  in  the  summer  of 
1864,  notwithstanding  one  pair  was  broken  up  the  same  season. 


t*^ 


GREAT-FOOTKD   HAWK. 


11 


8aw  five  adult  birds  of  tl.is  species  nl.out  IMount  Tom.  Dr  W 
W.K..1  of  Kast-Wi,ul.sor  Hill,  Conn.,  InfbrmH  me.  that  two  pairs  of 
Duck  Hawks  were  evidently  breeding  on  Tulcott  Mountain  in  the 
t<uinmer  of  iHOy. 

-Discovery  of  the  Eggs  on  Mount  7T;,„._  Although  the  Durk 
Hawk  has  been  long  known  to  breed  at  the  localities  in  Massachu- 
M-ltH  mentioned  above,  those  conversant  with  the  fact  were  not 
aware  that  any  special  interest  was  attached  to  it,  or  that  its  c-^s 
and  breeding  habits  were  but  very  little  known  to  ornithoIo.ri;,s'. 
and  so,  until  very  recently,  no  particular  eflbrts  have  been  made  tJ 
obtain  the  eggs.     Mr.  IJennett,  becoming  aware  of  this,  resolved 
to  procure  the  eggs.     He  accordingly  visited  iMount  Tom  for  this 
imrpose,  April  7,  of  the  present  year,  when  he  searched  the  whole 
ridge  of  the  mountain,  discovered  the  old  birds,  and  the  particular 
part  they  most  frcjuented,  and  also  the  site  of  n  nest  where  youn- 
had  been  raised.     The  old  birds  were  continually  near  this  spot' 
in.d  niamfested   much   solicitude  when  it  was   approached,  ofteu' 
flying  within  s.x  or  eight  rods;  and  once  the  female  came  within 
three,  screaming  and  thrusting  out  her  talons  with  an  expression  of 
great  rage  and  Herceness.     The  birds  did  not  appear  at  all  shy 
being  easily  approached  <,uite  near  to ;  though,  in  walking,  the  crack- 
ing  of  sticks  and  the  clinking  of  the  splinters  of  trap-rock  made  no 
little  noise.     One  of  the  birds  appeared  to  keep  close  to  the  eyrie  • 
and  both  would  approach  whenever  it  was  visited,  screamin-  at  and 
menacing  the  intruder,  notwitiistanding  that  at  that  time  there  were 
no  eggs,  as  was  afterwards  proved.    ^Ir.  Bennett,  suspectin-  that 
incubation  had  already  commenced,  visited  the  locality  arrai,,  on  the 
9th,  but  only  saw  the  old  nest;  the  birds  behaving  as  before      On 
April  19,  ten  days  later,  he  made   another  visit;   and   creeping 
cmefi.lly  to  the  summit  of  the  cliff,  at  a  point  near  the  eyrie 
already  spoken  of,  he  saw  the  female,  ou  looking  over  the  cliff, 
sitting  on  the  nest,  and  but  five  or  six  yards  distant.    She  eyed  him 
fiercely  for  an  instant,  and  then,  scrambling  from  the  nest  to  the 
edge  of  the  narrow  shelf  supi.orting  it,  launched  into  the  air-  in  a 
twinkling,  Mr.  Bennett's  unerring  aim  sent  her  tumbling  dead  at 
the  foot  of  the  precipice,  several  hundred  feet  below.   "The  ne^t 
conf^ained  four  eggs,  which  were  soon  safely  secured,  and  the  body 
of  the  female  was  obtained  from  the  foot  of  the  clifF.     The  male 
soon  coming  about,  was  shot  at;  but  he  was  too  shy  to  come  within 


12 


OttNITIIOLOljy   AND   OOLOGY. 


rnngc,  cxcofit  onco,  while  the  gun  was  being  reloiidt'd.  Tlio  eggs 
wen!  nil  laiil  aftor  Mr.  Hcinictt'H  visit,  April  !) ;  and  their  contents 
Bhowcd,  April  19,  tiuit  they  had  been  incubated  but  a  day  or  two. 
Incubation  Hcemsi,  in  this  case,  to  have  commenced  several  weeks 
later  than  usual,  which  may  bo  owing  to  the  hUo  snows  and  inniHual 
coldness  of  the  weather  this  year,  during  the  first  half  of  Ajtril. 

"  Locution  (ind  Description  of  the  Ki/rie.  —  Tiie  situation  of  the 
eyrie  was  near  the  highest  j»art  of  the  mountain,  about  one-third  of 
the  length  of  the  mountain  from  the  south  end,  on  a  narrow  shelf 
in  the  rock,  eight  or  ton  f^et  from  tiie  top  of  a  nearly  perpendicular 
cliff,  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  lunidred  feet  iu  height,  and  was 
inaccessible  except  to  a  bold  clintber,  and  at  one  particular  point. 
The  uest  was  merely  a  slight  excavation,  sufflcient  to  contain  the 
eggs :  no  accessory  material  had  been  added.  The  site  had  been 
previously  occupied,  and  probably  for  several  years  ;  and,  for  weeks 
before  tlie  eggs  were  laid,  was  carefully  guarded  by  the  bold  aud 
watchful  birds. 

"  Description  of  the  Eggs.  —  The  eggs,  four  in  number,  as  already 
stated,  diffei  greatly  both  in  shape  and  coloring ;  the  extremes  in 
either  being  widely  diverse.  They  are  described  in  detail,  and 
probably  in  the  same  order  as  laid. 

"No.  1.  Longer  diameter,  2.18  inches;  shorter  diameter,  1.71 
inches :  the  shorter  diameter  is  .885  the  longer.  The  form  is 
somewhat  ovoid,  one  end  being  slightly  larger  than  the  other ;  but 
neither  end  is  very  pointed :  the  point  of  greatest  transverse 
diameter  is  .G45  the  lengtli  of  the  egg  from  the  smallest  end.  In 
form,  this  egg  is  very  nearly  like  the  egg  from  Greenland,  figured 
by  Dr.  Brewer  in  the  '  North- American  Oology '  (pt.  I.  plate  II. 
fig.  11).  The  general  color  is  chocolate-brown,  darker  and  more 
dense  and  uniform  about  the  ends,  the  part  about  the  middle  being 
lighter,  varied  with  small  irregular  blotches  and  specks  of  a  darker 
tint  than  the  ground-color.  The  color  of  the  smaller  end  is  nearly 
a  uniform  dull-red  ochre.  There  is  also  an  irregular  }ielt  of  scat- 
tered and  apparently  very  superficial  blotches  of  very  j.r!  er  nvn, 
or  nearly  black.  Something  similar  is  often  notic'd  on  the  ggs 
of  many  birds  that  lay  brown  or  speckled  eggs. 

"No.  2.  Longer  diameter,  2.21  inches;  shorter  diameter,  1.G7 
inches  :  shorter  diameter,  .755  the  longer.  Form,  nearly  an  ellip- 
soid, the  point  of  greatest  transverse  diameter  being  scarcely  to 


OREAT-FOOTKD    HAWK. 


13 


one  Bide  of  tl.o  m.,Mlo  (.54  the  longtl,  of  the  ork  from  tho  smaller 
eiul) ;  endH  very  nourly  e.i.ial,  und  not  very  poinUul.  Tho  diBtri- 
l.iition  of  tho  color  in  thiH  is  nearest  of  any  of  tho  four  eegs 
lu'fi.re  n.c  to  that  flK.nvd  hy  Dr.  Hrewer,  a„d  only  .litters  from  it 
in  tu.t.  One  cn.l  (th.-  .mailer?)  is  v,.ry  li^rht  reddish,  or  reddish- 
white,  heeominK  lighter  fVom  the  mid.lle  towunls  this  en.l,  alu.ut 
whieh  It  is  the  li;rhtefit,  and  thiidy  marked  with  irregnhir  mottliiiKs 
of  dark  reddish  eho.Mdute,  whieh  present  a  very  superlieial  Krayi^h 
Uuiiv  that  is  very  eharaeteristi<! ;  the  other  end  (the  liir-fer?)  is  of 
a  uniform  dark  fenuginous-hrown  or  dnil-re.l  ochre,  varie.l  towards 
the  .ni,hI!o  by  the  appearance  of  tho  light  ground-color  between 
the  there  earcely  confluent  blotches  of  dark-brown  that  give  the 
uniform  deej)  tint  towards  and  about  this  end. 

"  No.  3.  Longer  diameter,  2.;52  inches  ;  shorter  diameter,  1  70 
inches:  shorter  diameter,  .733  the  longer.  Form  ovoid,  tho 
smaller  end  elongated  and  nnn-h  pointed.  This  egg  is  tho  longest, 
and  much  larg.-r  in  proportion  to  its  diameter  than  either  of^ tho' 
others.  The  point  of  greatest  diameter  is  .CoO  the  length  of 
the  egg  from  the  smaller  end.  In  this  specimen,  the  contrast 
between  the  ground-color  and  the  markings  becomes  very  stron- : 
the  ground-color,  whieh  is  seen  chiefly  in  a  broad  ba.id  about  the 
nnddle  of  the  egg,  being  white  or  re.hlish-white ;  and  the  markings 
very  dark  reddish-brown,  nearly  approaching  purple,  and  are  (pii"e 
umtbrmly  distributed  in  blotches  of  various  sizes,  the  largest  bein-^ 
near  the  larger  end  of  tho  egg:  the  sub-markings  are  of"a  lighter 
reddish-brown,  and  are  more  blended. 

"No.  4.  Longer  diameter,  2.1(i  inches;  shorter  diameter,  LG5 
inches:  shorter  diameter,  .7(5 ",  the  longer.  Form  regidar  ovoid, 
the  smaller  end  rather  more  pointed  than  the  same  in  No.  1 ;  point 
of  greatest  tninsverse  diameter  .GO  the  length  of  the  egg  from  tho 
smaller  end.  In  this  specimen,  the  contrast  of  the  ground-color 
witii  the  markings  is  very  striking,  especially  when  compared  with 
specimens  No.  1  and  No.  2 ;  and  the  most  peculiar  part  is,  that  the 
greater  end  of  the  egg,  which  in  the  eggs  of  most  birds  is  the  end 
usually  most  subject  to  markings  and  to  the  gi-eatest  depth  of  color, 
is  wi.ite,  sprinkled  sparingly  with  reddish  specks,  while  tho  smaller 
end  is  deep,  bright  brick-red,  here  and  there  relieved  by  small 
specks  and  patches  of  white  ground-color.  About  the  middle  of 
the  egg,  the  colors  are  in  more  equal  proportions ;  the  white  patches 


m 


'I 


14 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Ii 


becoming  larger  on  the  smdlei'  end  towards  the  miudle,  and  tlie 
red  patclies  on  the  larger  end  increase  towards  the  same  point, 
where  tlie  colors  meet  and  become  mixed  in  irregular  patches  of 
various  sizes,  from  mere  dots  to  blotclies.  The  smaller  end  has  a 
few  streaks  and  blotches  of  dark-purple  overlying  apparently  the 
other  colors,  as  in  specimen  No.  1. 

"  Thesj  specimens  are  very  interesting,  as  indicating  the  great 
amount  of  vai'iation  to  which  the  American  Peregrine's  egijs  are 
subject ;  and  especially  so  since  they  ai-e  all  the  product  of  one  pair 
of  birds,  laid  in  one  set,  and  identified  as  such  beyond  question. 
In  coloration,  a  transition  can  be  traced  between  the  extreme  in  the 
order  they  are  numbered,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  order  in  which 
they  were  laid,  as  indicated  by  the  thickness  of  the  shell  as  well  aa 
by  the  depth  of  color. 

TABLE  OF  COJirARATIVE  MEASUnEMENTS. 


Length. 

No.  1 2.18  in. 

No.  2 2.21  „ 

No.  3 2..32  ,, 

No.  4 2.16  „ 

Average 2.22  „ 

tircater  extreme   .     .    .  2.32  „ 

Le.'.scr  extreme     .    .    .  2.10  „ 

Amount  of  variation     .  0.16  „ 

Dr.  Brewer's  specimen  .  2.00  „ 


"  Frot  1  the  above  table,  it  will  be  seen  that  rhe  range  of  varia- 
tion in  t)ie  four  specimens  in  length  is  .10  of  an  incli,  or  nearly 
seven  and  a  half  per  cent  of  the  average  length;  in  breadth,  .06 
of  an  inch,  or  about  three  and  a  half  per  C3nt  of  the  average 
breadth :  in  the  proportion  of  breadth  to  lengtli,  about  fifteen  per 
cent  of  the  length,  or  nearly  twenty  per  cent  of  the  average  pro- 
portion. The  variiition  in  the  position  of  the  point  of  greatest 
transverse  diameter  is  about  eleven  and  a  half  per  cent  of  the 
whole  length  of  the  egg;  the  form  of  the  eggs  varying  from  an 
ellip.-ioid  in  No.  2  to  an  ovoia,  which,  in  No.  3,  has  the  smaller  end 
considerably  elongated.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  egg  meas- 
ured by  Dr.  Brewer  is  considerably  smaller  than  my  smallest 
specimen,  and  that  the  proportion  of  breadth  to  length  scarcely 
differs  from  the  same  proportion  in  No.  1. 


Trop.  of  bri-.idtl 

Point  of  (trratest  transverse 

Brcndth. 

to  lengtti. 

diiitnetor  from  small  end. 

1.71  in. 

0.785  in. 

0.640 

length 

of  the  egg 

1.07  „ 

0.756  „ 

0.540 

17 

1.70  ., 

0.732  „ 

0.056 

)J 

1.65  „ 

0.765  „ 

0.000 

V 

1.08  „ 

0.759  „ 

0.609 

I) 

1.71  „ 

0.785  „ 

0.050 

V 

1.6,5  „ 

0.7.32  „ 

0.540 

J» 

o.oc  „ 

0.053  „ 

0.116 

M 

1.56  „ 

0.780  „ 

GREAT-FOOTED   HAWK. 


15 


5th  of  the  egg. 


"  In  comparing  the  eggs  of  the  American  and  the  European 
Peregrine  Falcons,  Dr.  Brewer  observes:  'It  [the  American] 
closely  resembles  a  variety  of  the  eggs  of  the  European  species, 
but  seems  to  present  differences  sulfieieutly  well  marked  to  be 
regarded  as  specific.  .  .  .  Tlie  ground-colors  of  both  American  and 
European  are  a  reddish-yellow ;  and  both  are  thickly  covered  with 
fine  dottings  of  chocolate  and  ferruginous  brown,  diffused  over  the 
wiiole  egg  in  nearly  equal  degree,  and  to  such  an  extent  as  nearly 
to  conceal  the  ground.  The  lengtli  of  the  American  egg  is  slightly 
less ;  but  it  is  of  equal  or  greater  capacity,  and  varies  in  its  mark- 
ings from  all  the  Euroi)ean  specimens  that  I  have  ever  met  with. 
These  variations,  though  readily  traceable  by  tiie  eye,  are  not  so 
easily  described.  The  shades  of  coloring  in  both  are  closely  alike : 
tlie  variation  consists  more  in  the  distribution  of  these  markintrs.  In 
the  European  specimens,  the  line  markings  of  chocolate  are  distri- 
buted with  nearly  exact  uniformity.  In  the  American,  the  secondary 
colorings  are  now  more  thickly  and  now  more  thinly  diffused,  —  here 
leaving  the  ground-color  nearly  unchanged ;  there  becoming  con- 
fluent, and  blending  into  waving  lines,  blotches,  and  bold  dashes. 
The  egg,  in  consequence,  presents  a  more  varied  appearance.  These 
markings  are  also  in  greater  proiwrtion  around  tiie  largci-  end  of  the 
egg,  and  the  blotches  are  of  a  deeper  shade  ;  so  there  is  a  variation 
in  tl:e  shading  between  the  smrJler  and  larger  extremities  not  no- 
ticeable in  any  European  egg  that  I  have  met  with.' 

"  Tlie  amount  of  variation  presented  by  the  eggs  of  the  Duck 
Hawk,  described  above,  shows  tliat  but  little  dependence  can  be 
jilaccd  on  the  eggs  in  deciding  specific  differences.  Tiie  eggs  men- 
tioned by  Dr.  Brewer  are  not  much  different  from  those  of  the 
true  European  Peregrine.  One  or  two  of  the  specimens  before 
nie  considerably  resemble  Dr.  Brewer's,  and  likewise  eggs  of  the 
European  species,  as  figured  and  described  by  authors,  while 
the  otiicrs  are  very  different,  one  being  remarkably  so. 

"The  eggs  of  the  different  species  of  this  group  of  Falcons 
seem  to  resemble  each  other  greatly,  and  to  be  subject  to  consider- 
able variation  in  the  same  species.  In  the  manner  of  laying  the 
eggs,  there  is  also  a  similarity,  as  might  be  expected  among  closely 
allied  species ;  the  same  species  sometiinos  laying  them  on  the  bare 
locks,  and  again  in  a  bulky  nest  of  sticks  and  otiier  coarse  materi- 
als.    The  nest  of  this  species  visited  on  Talcott  Mountain,  Conn., 


16 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


|i      I 


was  of  the  latter  kind ;  while  on  Mount  Plolyoke  the  eggs  were 
laid  on  the  bare  earth. 

"  Audubon  tlius  describes  the  nest  and  eggs  of  the  Duck  Hawk, 
as  observed  by  him  at  Labrador :  — 

'"I  liave  nowhere  seen  it  so  abundant  as  along  the  high,  rocky  shores  of 
Labrador  and  Newfoundland,  where  I  procured  several  adult  individuals 
of  both  sexes,  as  well  as  some  eggs  and  young.     The  nests  were  placed  on 
the  shelves  of  rocks,  a  few  feet  from  the  top,  and  were  flat,  and  rudely  con- 
structed of  sticks  and  moss.     In  some  were  found  four  eggs,  in  others  only 
two,  and  in  one  five.     Ip  one  nest  only  a  single  young  bird  was  found.     The 
eggs  vary  considerably  in  color  and  size,  which,  I  think,  is  owing  to  a  differ- 
ence of  age  in  the  females;   the  eggs  of  young  birds  being  smaller.     The 
average  length  of  four  was  two  inches,  their  breadth  one  and  five-eighths. 
They  are  somewhat  rounded,  though  larger  at  one  end  than  the  other;  their 
general  and   most  common   color  is  a  reddish  or  rusty  yellowish-brown 
spotted  and  confusedly  maiked  with  darker  tints  of  the  same,  here  and  there 
mtermi.xed  with  lighter.     The  young  are  at  first  thickly  covered  with  soft 
white  down.  ...  In  several  instances,  we  found  these  falcons  breeding  on 
tlie  same  ledge  with  cormorants,  Phulacrocorax  carlo.'  "  l 

"  Audubon  adds  that  ho  is  perfectly  convinced  that  the  Great- 
footed  Falcon,  or  Duck  Hawk  of  the  later  ornithologists,  is  not 
different  from  tlie  Peregrine  Falcon  of  P:urope.  '  Since  my  first 
acquaintance  with  this  species,'  he  says,  '  I  have  observed  nothing 
in  its  habits,  form,  or  marking  on  one  continent  that  is  ditferen't 
from  what  is  found  on  the  other.'  Since  the  difference  in  breeding 
habits  supposed  to  exist  when  Bonaparte  separated  them  in  1838, 
and  which  influenced  his  judgment  in  the  mutter,  has  been  found 
to  be  not  real,  tliere  seems  to  be  nothing  whatever  in  the  breeding 
habits  or  in  the  appearance  of  the  eggs  to  indicate  specific  differ- 
ence between  the  American  and  European  birds." 

HYPOTEIOECHIS   COLUMBAEIUS.  —  G;w/. 

The  Pigeon  Hawk. 
Falco  columbnrim.  Limi.Tus.     Syst.  Nat  ,  I.  128  (1766). 
Fiilcointermixtus,Dinu\m.     Traitu  d'Orn.,  II.  Itl  (1800), 
Fnico  Icmernriiia,  Aiuliihdii.     dm.  Hiog..  I.  ;jsi  (l^3l). 
Falco  Aiuluboni.    Llackwall,  KL'seanlu's,  Zoul.,  1834. 

Desckiitiox. 
^</M/<.l/((/e.—I':utire  upper  parts  bluish-slate  color,  every  feather  with  a  bl'ick 
longitudinal  line;  forehead  and  throat  white;  other  under  parts  pale  yellowish  or 
1  Orn.  Uiog.,  vol.  V.  p.  3C0. 


I 


THE   PIGEON   HAWK. 


17 


a...y,  .ippec,  with  wlnte  and  '.'th  a^  ' '  E^        t^J  ;J';r  V'^ 
several  other  transverse  narrower  bunds  of  bi-  k         L  bhuk    and  wuh 

and  h.Ks  yellow;   bill  blue.  '         ''  ''"'''  '"^'"'y  white;  cere 

i oil II fjer.  —  Knthii  upper  plnmaffe  duskv-brown  nnito  i;,.i,f  • 
..d  with  .  tin,e  of  ash,;  ij.d  ah.L,  with  nZ:!  s'^^k  ^Z.rS:' 
K  .oMs,  a,ul  ,„  .o„,e  spec.in.ens  n.any  irregular  spots  and  ed^in^s  IfZlmt  tZ 
on  the  other  upper  parts,  forehead  and  entire  under  par^s  dull-w  e  tt  I 
with  lonj.it udn.al  stripes  of  li^^ht-hrown;  side,  and  H'lnks  li,.l„  l.  "^''  '"-  '■'"^'^ 
eirenhn-  spots  of  white;  tihhe  .lull  whi;e,  witi  .";':'  ;;^:'^;:;;;;^;  'T  "' 
w.t  ^  ,.t  si.  transverse  ba.ls  of  white;  eere  and  le,s  ^J^Xeli.""""'"^^"' 

sides  and  tianks  with  wide  trans.Le  bJnds  of  .Z:i:  !     .^^  '^iinSS 

^vertsiisri^r^-^irri:^^^^^ 

a,.d  a  half  to  eight  inches;  tail,  tite  inchel     '    '        '"  '^'"""  """"'  ^""^'  '^«^- 

This  sjiocie^  is  a  pretty  common  spring  and  fall  visitor  in 
all  the  iNew-England  States,  and  is  sometimes  a  resident 
m  the  so.ithern  sections  of  these  States  through  the  winter- 
specimens  being  occasionally  taken  as  late  as  Jannary   in' 
mild  seasons.     This  bird  is  one  of  the  most  destrnctive  of 
our  rapaeia :  he  kills  all  the  smaller  birds,  robins,  black- 
birds, si)arrows  in  great  numbers,  and  even  attacks  the 
wild  ijigeon  and  dove,  which  he  is  almost  always  able  to 
overtake   and   capture,  as   ho   is   possessed   of  very  .n-eat 
nip.dity  of  flight.     I  have  seen  one  of  these  hawks  make  a 
pounce  at  a  sparrow  that  Nvas  singing  on  a  low  bush;  and 
he  bird  happdy  eliuling  his  clutch,  as  quick  as  a  flash  of 
hght,  he  turned,  an.l  pursued  and  captured  a  robin  that  had 
taken  flight  at  his  first  appearmice,  and  was  already  quite  a 
consHlerable  distance  off:   as  the  robi.i  i,  ,vell  known  to 
have  great  speed  of  flight,  this  circumstance  well  illustrates 
the  velocity  of  this  hawk. 

The  flight  of  the  bird  consists  of  a  series  of  flaps  of  tho 
wings,  with  but  a  very  few  intervals  of  soaring:  in  pursuing 
the  wild  pigeon,  the  strokes  of  the  wings  of  the  two  birds 
are  nearly  simultaneous.     As  he  strikes  his  prey,  he  almost 


18 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I    , 


always,  instead  of  clutching  it  as  it  falls,  alights  after  it  has 
fallen,  in  the  same  manner  as  the  Great-footed  Hawk.  I 
have  noticed  the  same  fact  with  the  Rod-tailed  Hawk ;  the 
victim  seems  to  fall  dead,  or,  at  any  rate,  perfectly  incapable 
of  motion :  whether  this  is  the  result  of  a  kind  of  mesmer- 
ism, as  it  were,  similar  to  the  influence  of  the  cats  on  their 
prey,  or  the  hawk  transfixes  his  quarry  through  the  vitals,  I 
am  unable  to  say. 

The  Pigeon  Hawk,  in  alighting  on  a  branch  or  other 
object,  always  descends  below  the  level  of  it,  and  rises  up ; 
and  usually  turns  abruptly  about,  and  faces  the  direction 
from  which  it  came,  as  soon  as  it  has  struck  its  perch. 
This  habit  is  observable  in  many  of  the  other  hawks. 

While  perching,  the  tail  is  often  flirted  up  and  down, 
and  the  wings  are  partially  opened  and  shut  in  a  nervous 
manner,  as  if  the  bird  Avero  anxious  to  be  off  again  in  the 
pursuit  of  game. 

It  is  not  improbable  that  it  breeds  in  New  England, 
although  I  do  not  remember  of  an  authenticated  instance. 
I  have  no  egg  of  this  bird  in  my  collection,  and  have  never 
met  with  its  nest.  There  seems  considerable  confusion 
regarding  this  species,  both  as  to  its  nesting-place  and  its 
eggs.  Mr.  Hutchins  says  ("  Fauna  Boreali  Americana," 
II.  36)  it  "  makes  its  nest  on  rocks  and  in  hollow  trees, 
of  sticks  and  grass,  lined  with  feathers ;  laying  from  two  to 
four  white  eggs,  marked  with  red  spots.''  Audubon,  in 
describing  the  eggs,  says  ("  Birds  of  America ")  :  "  Mr. 
Hutchins's  description  of  the  eggs  of  this  bird  is  greatly 
at  variance  with  my  own  observations.  The  eggs,  in  three 
instances  which  occurred  at  Labrador,  were  five ;  they 
measured  an  inch  and  three-quarters  in  length,  an  inch  and 
a  quarter  in  breadth,  and  were  ratlier  elongated ;  their 
ground-color  a  dull  yellowish-brown,  thickly  clouded  with 
irregular  blotches  of  dull,  dark  reddish-brown."  Dr. 
Brewer  says  ("  Synopsis  of  Birds  of  North  America,"  as 
an  appendix  to  AVilson's  "  Ornithology  ")  it  "  nests  in  low 


I  after  it  has 
i  Hawk.    I 

Hawk ;  the 

ly  incapable 

of  mesmer- 

;ats  on  their 

the  vitals,  I 

ih  or  other 
rid  rises  up ; 
he  direction 
i  its  perch. 
'  hawks, 
and  down, 

II  a  nervous 
igain  in  the 


w  England, 
3d  instance. 

have  never 
Q  confusion 
lace  and  its 
Lmericana," 
lollow  trees, 
from  two  to 
aidubon,  in 
a  ")  :  "  Mr. 
i  is  greatly 
L'gs,  in  tlireo 

five ;  they 
an  inch  and 
atcd ;  their 
ouded  with 
>wn."  Dr. 
merica,"  as 
ests  in  low 


#^ 


i      Mi 


hi-  H\ 


I'l.ATK    I. 


H:'    I. 


ihiiHiis.     Oniv. 


U'lrf,. 


THE  SPARROW  HAWK. 


19 


fir-trccs,  twelve  feet   from   the  ground;    cg^s  three,  dull 
yellowish-brown,  with  dark  reddish-brown  brotches." 

A  single  egg  before  me,  kindly  loaned  for  descriptions 
and  figure  by  George  A.  Boardman  of  Milltown,  Me.,  is  of 
the  al)ove  color.  It  is  admirably  figured,  fig.  1,  plate  I., 
in  this  volume.  It  is  a  trifle  more  pointed  than  the  eggs 
of  rapacious  birds  usually  arc,  and  measures  l.oO  inch  iu 
length,  and  1.14  inch  at  its  greatest  breadth. 

TINNUNCDLUS  SPAEVEEIUS.—  rteillot. 
The  Sparrow  Hawk. 

Fnlco  sparreriiis,  Linnreus.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  128  (1766). 

Falcu  (lomiiiicenses,  Gm.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  285  (1788). 

Falco  gracilis,  cinnamoninus,  ami  isabeUinm.    Sw.  Cab.  Cy.,  p.  281  (1838). 

Descuiptiox. 

AiMt.—Yxm\a.\  hand  and  space,  indudiiif,'  the  eyes  and  throat,  white;  spot  on 
tlie  nook  behind,  two  otiiors  on  each  side  of  the  nock,  and  hnu  running  downwards 
from  before  the  eye,  bhiok;  spot  on  tiie  top  of  tiie  head,  the  neck  behind,  back, 
riinip  and  tail,  light  rufous  or  ciiuianion  color;  under  parts  generally  a  paler  shade 
of  the  same  rufous  as  tlie  back,  frequently  nearly  white,  but  sometimes  as  dark  as 
the  upper  parts,  and  always  with  more  or  loss  numerous  circular  or  oblong  spots  of 
black;  quills  l)rowMisii-l)lack,  with  white  bars  on  their  inner  webs;  tail  tipped  Avith 
white,  frequently  tinged  with  rufous,  and  with  a  broad  subterminal  baud  of  black, 
outer  frequently  white,  tinged  with  ashy,  and  barred  with  black;  bill  liglit-bluej 
legs  yellow;  back  generally  with  transverse  stripes  of  black,  but  frequently  with 
very  few,  or  entirely  without;  rufous  spot  on  the  head,  variable  in  size,  and  some- 
times wanting. 

Youiiyer  .!/«/('.  — Upper  parts  as  above;  wing  coverts  and  tail  ferruginous  rod, 
with  numerous  transverse  bands  of  brownish-black;  under  parts  with  numerous 
longitudinal  stripes,  and  on  the  sides  with  tran.sverse  bands  of  brownish-hlack; 
oxtonial  feathers  of  the  tail  palest;  broad  subterminal  band  on  the  tail,  obscure  or 
wanting. 

Yoiiii,; — All  the  rufous  parts  of  the  plumage  with  wider  transverse  bands  of 
l)rownish-black;  wing  coverts,  dark  bluish-cinereous,  with  large  circular  sfots 
of  black;  under  parts  with  longitudinal  stripes,  and  large  circular  spots  of  black; 
iris  very  dark  liazcl. 

Total  length,  eleven  to  twelve  inches;  wing,  seven  to  seven  and  a  half;  tail,  five 
to  five  and  a  half  inches. 

This  beautiful  little  hawk  is  a  summer  inhabitant  of  all 
the  New-England  States,  and,  in  the  more  southern  districts, 
a  resident  throughout  the  year.  It  is  a  not  very  common 
species,  hardly  a  half-dozen  birds  being  seen  in  these  States 


20 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


by  a  student  tlirougli  the  year,  no  mattor  how  entlmsiastin 
lie  may  bo.  I  can  add  notliin,!?  to  Wilson's  description  that 
will  be  of  interest :  it  is  as  Ibllows :  — 


"  The  habits  and  manners  of  this  bird  are  well  known.     It  flics 
rather  irregularly,  occasionally  suspending  itself  in  the  air,  hover- 
ing over  a  particular  spot  for  a  minute  or  two,  and  then  sliootiiig 
off  in  another  direction.     It  jierches  on  the  top  of  a  dead  tree  or 
pole,  in  the  middle  of  a  field  or  meadow,  and,  as  it  aliglits,  shuts  its 
long  wings  so  suddenly  that  they  seem  instantly  to  disappear:  it 
sits  here  in  an  almost  perpendicular  position,  sometimes  for  an  hour 
at  a  time,  frecjuently  jerking  its  tail,  and  reconnoitring  the  ground 
below,  in  every  direction,  for  mice,  lizards,  &c.     It  approaches  the 
farmhouse,  particularly  in  the  monnng,  skulking  about  the  barn- 
yard  for   mice  or   young   chickens.      It  frcfpu-ntly  jilunges    into 
a  thicket  after  small   birds,   as  if  by  random,  but  always  witli  a 
particular,  and  generally  a  fatal  aim.     One  day  I  observed  a  bird 
of  this  species  perched  on  tlie  higlu'st  top  of  a  large   poplar,  on 
the  skirts  of  the  wood,  and  was  in  the  act  of  raising  the  yun  to 
my  eye,  when  he  swept  down,  widi  the  rapidity  of  an  arrow,  into  a 
thicket  of  briers,  about  thirty  yards  off,  wlier(>  I  shot  him  dead, 
and,  on  coming  up,  found  a  small  field-sparrow  quivering  in  his 
grasp.     Both  our  aims  liad  been  taken  in  the  same  instant ;  and, 
unfortunately  for  him,  both  were  fatal.     It  is  particularly  fond  of 
watching  along   hedge-rows   and  in  orchards,   where  small   birds 
usually  resort.     AVhen  grass) lojipers  are  plenty,  they  form  a  con- 
siderable part  of  its  food. 


il  M<'i 


TIIK   SPARUOW    HAWK. 


21 


"Thoiinrh  small  snakes,  mice,  lizards,  &c.,  are  favorite  morsels 
with  tins  iictive  bird,  y^t  we  are  not  to  suppose  it  altogether  desti- 
tute! of  (leliciu-y  in  feeding.  Tt  will  seldom  or  never  eat  of  any 
thing  that  it  has  not  itself  killed ;  and  even  that,  if  not  (as  epieures 
would  term  it)  in  f/nod  enting  order,  is  sometimes  rejected.  A  very 
respectable  friend,  through  the  medium  of  Mr.  Uartram,  informs 
nie,  that  one  moruing  he  observed  one  of  these  hawks  dart  down 
on  the  ground,  and  seize  a  mouse,  which  he  carried  to  a  fence-post, 
where,  after  examining  it  for  some  time,  he  left  it,  and,  a  little 
while  after,  pounced  uj)on  another  mouse,  which  he  instantly  car- 
ried off  to  his  nest  in  the  hollow  of  a  tree  hard  by.  The  gentle- 
man, anxious  to  know  why  the  hawk  had  rejected  the  first  mouse, 
went  up  to  it,  and  found  it  to  be  almost  covered  with  lice,  and 
greatly  emaciated.  Here  was  not  only  delicacy  of  taste,  but  sound 
and  prudent  reasoning :  "  If  I  carry  this  to  my  nest,"  thought  he, 
"it  will  fill  it  with  vermin,  and  hardly  be  worth  eating." 

"The  Blue  Jays  have  a  particular  antii)athy  to  this  bird,  and 
fre(iuently  insult  it  by  following  and  imitating  its  notes  so  exactly 
as  to  deceive  even  those  well  acquainted  with  both.  In  return  for 
all  this  abuse,  the  Ilawk  contents  himself  with  now  and  then 
feasting  on  the  plumpest  of  his  persecutors,  who  are,  therefore,  in 
perpetual  drond  of  him ;  and  yet,  through  some  strange  infatuation, 
or  from  fear  that,  if  they  lose  sight  of  him,  he  may  attack  them 
unawares,  the  Sparrow  Hawk  no  sooner  appears  than  the  alarm  is 
given,  and  the  whole  posse  of  jays  follow." 

Although  I  have  had  quite  a  nuniher  of  the  eggs  of  tliis 
bird,  I  have  been  able  to  moot  with  but  one  nest,  notwitli- 
standiiig  I  liavc  repeatedly  scarclied  for  it  iu  many  localities. 
This  was  built  in  a  crow's  nest  of  the  previous  year,  in  a 
henilock-trce,  al)out  thirty  feet  from  the  ground.  There 
had  been  apparently  Init  few  alterations  of  the  old  nest ; 
these  consisting  principally  of  tlio  addition  of  a  few  loose 
sticks  and  twigs  to  the  interior  of  the  nest,  making  it 
nearly  a  flat  jdatform.  The  locality  was  the  valley  of  the 
]\Iagalloway  River,  about  twenty-five  miles  north  of  Lake 
Umbagog,  Me.  The  eggs  Avcre  four  in  number;  and 
these,  with  several  other  specimens  collected  iu  Upton,  Me., 


22 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Calais,  Mo.,  and  Williainstown,  Mass.,  aro  before  mo.  I  arn 
inclined  to  think,  from  what  I  can  learn  from  collectors  and 
Others,  that  fonr  is  the  usual  numhor  laid  l)y  this  hird, — 
probably  seldom  more.  Thoir  ground-color  varies  from  a 
deep  cream  or  yello\vish-l)ufr  to  a  pale  reddish-white:  tliis 
is  covered,  more  or  less  thickly  in  diflbrent  specimens,  with 
spota  and  confluent  blotches  of  reddish-brown  and  Vandyke- 
brown,  or  chocolate.  Their  form  is  nearly  spherical,  being 
but  very  little  pointed  at  either  eiul.  Their  dinumsions 
vary  from  1.40  inch  by  l.lo  inch  to  l.-SO  inch  by  l.V)  inch. 
This  species  breeds  later  than  most  of  the  other  birds 
of  prey,  as  the  eggs  which  I  found  in  Maine  on  the  11th  of 
Juno,  1864,  were  newly  laid. 


Sub-Family  AcciriTRiNyE.  —  The  Hawks. 

Form  rather  lotif;  mid  slender;  tail  nnd  le^fs  lonj,';  wings  rather  short;  hill  short, 
hooked;  ujiper  ninndlhle  lulled,  but  not  toothed.  Very  active  and  vigilant,  and  swill 
of  tllKlit;  pursuin^j  their  prey,  which  consists  of  birds  and  small  quadrupeds,  into 
the  woods  and  forests. 

ASTUR,  Lac. 

A»tur,  Lacei'EDe,  Mem.  Inst.,  III.  p.  500. 

The  largest  birds  of  this  sub-family,  (lencral  form  strong,  but  rather  long  and 
slender;  wing  rather  short;  tail  long  and  broad;  tarsi  long,  covered  in  front  with 
rather  wide  transverse  scales;  toes  and  claws  moderate,  the  latter  fully  curved, 
sharp;  bill  short,  curved;  nostrils  large,  ovate,  inserted  in  the  cere.  This  genus 
contains  about  twelve  species  of  all  countries. 

ASTUR  ATEICAPILLUS.  — 2?cmn/)arte. 

The  Goshawk. 

Falco  atricnpiHus,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VI.  80  (1812). 
Falco  reyalk,  Temm.    Tl.  col.  I.  (liv.  84,  about  1827). 
Dmdaliim pictuvi,  J  esson.    Traite  d'Om.,  I.  07  (1831). 

Description. 

Adult,  —  Head  above,  neck  behind,  and  stripe  from  behind  the  eye,  black, 
generally  more  or  less  tinged  with  ashy;  other  upper  parts  dark  ashy  bluish  or 
slate  color,  with  the  shafts  of  the  feathers  black,  and  fi'equently  with  the  feathers 
narrowly  edged  with  black,  presenting  a  squamate  or  scale-like  appearance ;  a  con- 
spicuous stripe  over  the  eye,  and  an  obscure  and  partially  concealed  occipital  and 


nuchal  band,  white ; 
every  feallicr  with  a 
irregidiir  and  impcrl 
distinct  uiid  regular 
vliaile  of  till!  same  c< 
olliiT  upper  [larts; 
(iliMc  lire  hands  of  a 
under  tail  coverts  wl 

Younji,  —  Kntire 
rspecially  on  the  liei 
nearly  white;  tail  li^; 
brown,  and  narrowli 
darker  shadi^  of  the 
Webs;  under  parts  w 
dish ;  every  feather  w 
sides  and  tibia'  freiii 
of  the  sauH!  color,  tl 
under  tail  coverts  wli 

"  ylr/M/<.  —  itill  bl 
greenish-blue;  iris  re 

"  Yom„j.  —  \S\\\  1 
AununoN. 

Total  length,  fern 
tail,  ten  and  a  half  t( 
a  half;  tail,  nine  and 

This  handsoi 
in  the  New-En 
tion,  which  is 
Verrill,  in  his 
common,  and  t 
a  nest  of  this 
its  egg  in  my 
me  two  eggs 
Wol)urn,  Mass 
and  which  corn 
1  showed  him 
thought  them  id 
doubt  concerni 
them  as  of  thi 
figure  them  in  i 
are  almost  exa 


THE  GOHHAWK. 


88 


nuchalbnnil,  white;  entire  under  piirfH  mcttl.d  willi  wliito  nn.l  liKht  nHhy-lirowiii 
eviTv  (■.•iitliiT  with  a  lonKitinlliiiii  liiu>  oC durlt-brown  on  it*  Bhudr,  ami  wiili  iimiifrouH 
Irri'Kiiliir  nud  iiiip.'rt'cct  truiiHvcrjd!  lines  or  narrow  stripcM  of  li^lit  axliy-lirown,  morn 
iliKtinrt  uml  ri'Kulur  on  thu  uljdonu-n  iiml  til.iu-;  <|iiillH  lin.wn,  with  ImmN  of  a  dcfpfr 
nhade  of  thf  oaniu  color,  and  oC  asliy-whltr  on  llicir  inner  webs;  tail  xanie  color  nn 
oiliir  upper  parts;  nndcr  mirlaco  very  pale,  nearly  white,  ami  having  about  four 
obM.iire  Imnds  of  a  ibeper  »hadu  of  ashy-brown,  and  narrowly  tipped  with  whites 
under  tail  cuvcrts  whitu-. 

yoMw^.  _  Entire  upper  parts,  ineludiuK  head,  dark-brown,  with  tlm  feathers, 
ropeeially  on  the  head  and  neck  behind,  edged  and  spotted  with  liKht-reddisb,  or 
nearly  white;  tail  liKlit-a.-hy,  with  about  live  wide  and  conspicuous  bands  of  ashy- 
brown,  and  narrowly  tippe.l  with  ashy-white;  (piills  brown,  with  wide  bars  of  a 
darker  shade  of  the  same  color,  ami  wide  bands  of  re(blish-whito  on  their  inner 
webHj  under  partH  white,  generally  tinged  with  yellowish,  and  fre(iuenlly  with  red- 
dish ;  cverj' feather  with  tt  longitudinal  stripe  terminating  in  an  ovate  :-pot  of  brown  ; 
Bides  and  tibia'  fre(iuently  with  .inular  and  lancolate  spots  and  irregular  bands 
of  the  sanu-  color,  the  tibiu'  generally  very  conspicm>usly  marked  in  thU  manner; 
under  tail  coverts  white,  with  a  few  large  lanceolate  spots  of  brown. 

''Mull.  —  m\  black,  light-bluo  at  the  base;  cere  greenish-yellow;  eyebrow 
greenish-blue;  iris  reddish-orange;  feet  yellow. 

"  yoiiiiy.  —  m\  as  in  the  adult;  iris  light-yellow;  feet  grccnish-yellow." — 
AuDunoN. 

Total  length,  female,  twenty-two  to  twenty-four  inches;  wing  about  fourteen; 
tail,  ten  and  a  half  to  eleven  inches.  Mule,  about  twenty  inches;  wing,  twelve  and 
a  half;  tail,  nine  and  a  half  inches. 

This  liandsomo  hawk  is  a  not  very  common  winter  visitor 
in  the  New-England  States ;  at  least,  such  is  my  observa- 
tion, whicli  is  corroborated  by  many  others,  jilthonjih  Mr. 
Verrill,  in  his  catalogue  of  the  birds  of  Maine,i  says  it  is 
common,  and  that  it  breeds  there.  I  have  never  met  with 
a  nest  of  this  species,  and  have  no  authentic  specimen  of 
its  egg  in  my  collection.  In  18G4,  a  gentleman  brought 
me  two  eggs  that  he  fotmd  in  a  large  hawk's  nest  in 
Woburn,  Mass.  He  described  the  hawk,  which  he  killed, 
and  which  corresponded  pretty  closely  with  that  of  this  bird. 
I  showed  him  mounted  specimens  of  the  Goshawk,  and  he 
thouffht  them  identical  with  his  bird.  As  there  was  still  a 
doubt  concerning  the  identity  of  the  eggs,  I  did  not  label 
them  as  of  this  species,  and  for  the  same  reason  will  not 
figure  them  in  this  work.  So  far  as  description  goes,  they 
are  almost  exactly  like  the  eggs  of  the  Red-tailed  Hawk 

1  Proceedings  Essex  Institute,  vol.  III.  p.  140. 


^f%, 


i. 


11 


24 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


(^Bnfeo  horealis),  but  arc  a  little  more  of  a  bluish-white  in 
tlie  gi'ouud-color. 

For  some  reason,  this  species  was  quite  abundant  in 
the  neigliborliood  of  Boston  in  tlie  Avinter  of  1859-00 : 
probably  a  dozen  or  (ifteon  specimens  were  sent  to  nie  in 
tlie  dit'ferent  plumages,  and  I  liave  heard  of  many  others 
being  sliot  in  the  same  season. 

I  have  had  bnt  ^q\w  op|)ortunities  for  studying  tl"^  habits 
of  this  hawk,  and,  as  my  observations  have  been  very 
meagre,  I  will  give  Audubon's  description,  which,  so  far  as 
my  experience  goes,  is  very  accurate  ;  it  is  as  follows :  — 

"  The  Hight  of  tlie  Goslmwk  is  extremoly  rapid  and  protracted. 
He  sweeps  ak)iig  the  margins  of  tlie  fields,  through  the  woods,  and 
by  the  edges  of  ponds  and  rivers,  with  such  speed  as  to  enable  him 
to  seize  his  prey  by  merely  deviating  a  few  yards  from  his  course ; 
assisting  himself  on  such  occasions  by  his  long  tail,  which,  like  a 
rudder,  he  throws  to  the  right  or  left,  upwards  or  downwards,  to 
check  his  progress,  or  enable  him  suddenly  to  alter  his  course. 
At  times  he  passes  like  a  meteor  through  the  underwood,  where 
ho  secures  scpiirrels  and  hares  with  ease.  Should  a  flock  of  wild 
pigeons  pass  him  when  on  these  predatory  excursions,  he  imme- 
diately gives  chase,  soon  overtakes  them,  and,  forcing  his  way  into 
the  very  centre  of  the  flock,  scatters  them  in  confusion,  when  you 
may  see  h;m  emerging  with  a  bird  in  his  talons,  and  diving  towards 
the  dei)tli  of  the  forest  to  feed  upon  his  victim.  "When  travelling, 
he  flies  high,  with  a  constant  beat  of  the  wings,  seldom  moving  in 
large  circles  like  other  hawks ;  and,  when  lie  does  this,  it  is  only 
a  few  times  in  a  hurried  manner,  after  which  he  continues  his 
journey. 

"Along  the  Atlantic  Coast,  this  species  follows  the  numerous 
flocks  of  ducks  that  are  found  there  during  the  autumn  and  winter; 
and  greatly  aids  in  the  destruction  of  mallards,  teals,  black  ducks, 
and  other  species,  in  company  with  the  Peregrine  Falcon  {Fuko 
aiKitnin).  It  is  a  restless  bird,  apparently  more  vigilant  and  indus- 
trious than  many  other  hawks,  and  it  seldom  alights  unless  to 
devour  its  prey ;  nor  can  I  recollect  ever  having  seen  one  alighted 
for  many  minutes  at  a  time,  without  having  a  bird  in  its  talons. 


THE   GOSHAWK, 


25 


Wl,en  tluis  engaged  with  its  prey,  it  stands  nearly  upright;  and  in 
general   wl,en  perel.od,  it  keeps  itself  more  erect  than  most  species 
of_  hawks       It   is   extremely  expert   at   catching   snipes   on    the 
wmg;  and  so  well  do  these  birds  know  their  insecnrity,  that,  on  its 
approach,  they  prefer  sqnatting  to  endeavoring  to  escape  by  flight. 
AV  hen   the   passenger   pigeons  are  abundant  in  the  western 
country,  the    Goshawk   follows    their   close   masses,   and   subsists 
upon  them.     A  single  hawk  suffices  to  spread  the  ijreatest  terror 
among  their  ranks ;  and  the  moment  he  sweeps  towards  a  flock 
the  whole  immediately  dive  into  the  deepest  woods,  where,  not- 
withstanding their  great  speed,  the  marauder  succeeds  in  clutchh... 
he  fattest.     While  travelling  along  the  Ohio,  I  observed  several 
hawks  of  this  species   in   the   train  of  millions  of  these  pi-^eons. 
Towards  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  I  saw  one  abandoning,  its 
course   to  give  chase  to  a  large  flock  of  Crow  Blackbirds  (QmS. 
calm  versicolor),  then  crossing  the  river.     The  hawk  approached 
them  with  the  swiftness  of  an  arrow,  when  the  blackbir.ls  rushed 
together  so  closely  that  the  flock  looked  like  a  dusky  ball  passin.. 
through  the  air.     On  reaching  the  mass,  he,  with  the  greatest  ease" 
seized  first  one,  then  another  and  another,  giving  ea^h  a  squeeze 
with  his  talons,  and  suff-ering  it  to  drop  upon  the  water.     In  this 
manner  he  had  procured  four  or  five,  before  the  poor  birds  reached 
the  woods,  mto  which  they  instantly  plunged,  when  he  jjave  up  the 
chase,  swept  over  the  water  in  graceful  curves,  and  picked  the  fruits 
of  his  industry,  carrying  each  bird  singly  to  the  shore.     Reader,  is 
this  instinct  or  reason  ? 

"  The  nest  of  the  Goshawk  is  placed  on  the  branches  of  a  tree 

near  the  trunk  or  main  stem.     It  is  of  great  size,  and  resembles 

tha   of  our  crow,  or  some  species  of  owl ;  being  construcf  ed  of  with- 

ered  twigs  and  coarse  grass,  with  a  lining  of  fibrous  strips  of  i.lants 

resembling  hemp.     It  is,  however,  mud.  flatter  than  that  of  the 

crow.     In  one  I  found,  in  the  month  of  April,  three  eor.,s  ready  to 

be  hatcbcl:   they  were  of  a  dull  bluish-white,  spariijly  spotted 

With  light  re,l.li.sh-brown.     In  another,  which  I  found  i;iaced  on  a 

pine-tree,  growing  on  the  eastern  rocky  bank  of  the  Niagara  River 

a  few  miles  below  the  great  cataract,  the  lining  was  formed  of 

withered  herbaceous  plants,  with  a  few  feathers  :  the  v<r.s  were 

four  in  number,  of  a  wliite  color  tinged  with  greenish-blue,  large, 

much  rounded,  and  somewhat  granulated. 


If" 


26 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I  j 

r    r  I 


"  In  another  nest  were  four  young  birds  covered  with  buff-col- 
ored down,  tlieir  legs  and  feet  of  a  pale  yellowish  Hesli-color,  the 
bill  light-blue,  and  the  eyes  iiale-gray.  They  differed  greatly  in 
size,  one  being  quite  small  compared  with  the  rest.  I  am  of 
opinion  that  few  breed  to  the  south  of  the  State  of  Maine." 

I  once  witnessed  an  attempt  of  this  bird  to  capture  a 
common  gray  S(iuirrel,  that  was  qnite  interesting  to  the 
hehohlev,  but  certainly  not  to  the  animal.  While  on  a  col- 
lecting excursion,  a  few  miles  from  Boston,  as  I  was  seated 
beneath  a  huge  oak,  observing  tlie  movements  of  some  small 
birds,  I  heard  the  barking  of  a  squirrel ;  and,  while  looking 
for  his  whereabouts,  I  suddenly  heard  a  whistling  sound  as 
of  a  body  falling  through  the  air,  and,  as  quick  as  thought, 
a  Goshawk  struck  on  the  limb,  on  the  spot  where,  a  second 
before,  the  squirrel  had  been  seated  :  luckily  for  the  squirrel, 
tlie  hawk  missed  his  aim,  the  animal  giving  a  sudden  dodge 
beneath  the  limb  the  moment  the  hawk  appeared.  All 
Avho  are  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  this  quadruped 
know  that  it  is  very  successful  in  dodging  behind  the  limb 
of  a  tree,  and  hugging  it  closely.  The  hawk  sat  a  few 
moments,  apparently  surprised  at  his  disappointment,  when, 
suddenly  launching  into  the  air,  he  espied  it  beneath  the 
limb,  hugging  for  dear  life.  As  soon  as  he  had  moved, 
the  squirrel  turned  adroitly  on  the  limb,  still  keeping  it 
between  itself  and  its  enemy.  After  several  trials,  the 
hawk  always  alighting  and  remaining  perched  on  the  limb  a 
few  seconds,  he  succeeded,  by  a  dexterous  feir.c,  in  securing 
his  prey,  when,  on  the  instant,  I  fuod,  bringing  the  hawk 
and  his  victim  to  the  ground.  The  hawk  droi)ped  dead; 
but  the  squirrel,  after  lying  on  the  ground  a  moment,  got 
up,  and  staggered  off  beneath  a  pile  of  rocks,  and  I  neither 
saw  nor  heard  any  thing  more  of  it. 

ACCIPITER,  BuissoN. 

Accipiter,  Brisson,  Orn.,  I.  310  (1760). 

General  fonn  more  slender  and  smaller  than  Astur,  but  otlienvise  similar;  wings 
short,  tail  long,  tarsi  long  and  slender,  frequently  with  the  scales  in  front  nearly 


obsolete.  Con 
resemble  each 
especially  in  ac 


Falco  Cvcpe 
Falco  Stank 


Adult.  —  ITej 

upper  parts  dai 

obscure  rufous  c 

former  with  line 

rufous  and  wlii 

marliings  on  tlie 

wide  bands  of  b 

Young.  —  He 

longitudinal  stri 

brown,  witli  larj 

tipped  with  wlii 

brown;  tail  as  in 

orange ;  in  younj 

Total  lengtli. 

Female,  total  len 

tail,  nine  inches. 

It  is  a  not 

that  in  diffe 

species  liave 

wliile  others 

have  moved 

common  resi 

tively,  Strang 

Tlie  Coope 

of  these  chai 

was  formerly 

the  most  abu 

The  habitf 

known.     It  is 

"  Hen  Hawk 

poultry  well  c 


THE   cooper's   hawk. 


27 


rtomt  ca'^r  mil"' r'/""'' v^"?\°'""  '^''""'^"■•^^'  «--»'  ^^-hich  intimately 
rcscmb  e  eati,  o  I.er.  Colors  m  Xortl.-American  species  very  similar  to  each  othef 
c-specaliy  .n  adult  specimens,  tl.ouKl.  they  differ  materially  in  size.  ' 

ACCIPITEE  COOPEEIL- Bonaparte. 
The  Cooper's  Hawk. 
Falco  Cuoperii,  Bonaparte.    Am.  Orn.,  II.  1  (1828) 
Falco  Sianleii,  Audubon,    Orn.  Biog.,  I.  1S6  (1831). 

Description. 

^f/«//.  — Head  above  brownish-black,  mixed  with  winto  ,,„  *i 
upper  parts  dark  ashy-brown   with  the  J  fi      f   I     7    I  ''"^  "^"P"*'  ''"'" 

obscure  rufous  collar  on  Ze^r  behind  f     i'  '""!'""  ''--"-'-^'-■k !  an 

former  with  lines  of  dark   ,rown-  o  ""     '""'"■  '"''  '°'-''''  '''"''^  "- 

>onj:;;;^;7^:i:;;;i-''- -:;t^^      -^h  ru..,s,  and  with 

brown,  with  lar-e  nnrti'illv  ro.t       V        .  '  ""  "P''"  P'"''"  ''«'"  "■"l'^'-- 

tipped'  with  .v^.;;  ;'       ?p    "wSeT  M  ""'  '"^,  "'  ^^'"^"'  ""P*^-"  ^''"  --^'s 

It  is  a  noticeable  fact  in  tl.e  liistory  of  many  of  our  birds 
that  in  different  periods,  from  some  cause  or  other,  m^^iy 
species  have  increased  in  number  to  a  remarkable  Extent 
while  others  have  diminished  in  like  proportion.      Some' 
have  moved  from  sections  in  which  they  were  for  yea^s 

The  Cooper's  or  Stanley  Hawk  of  Audubon  has  liad  one 
of  these  changes  ;  and  throughout  New  England,  where  it 
was  formerly  a  comparatively  rare  species,  it  is  now  one  of 
the  most  abundant  of  our  birds  of  prey 

The  habits  of  the   Cooper's  Hawk  "are  generally  well 

Hen  Hawk;"  and  tlie  miscliief  it  does  among  domestic 
poultry  well  earns  for  it  this  title. 


It  I 


R 


28 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Powerful,  active,  and  gifted  witli  great  rapidity  of  flight, 
he  is  able  to  attack  and  conquer  birds  and  animals  greatly 
his  superior  in  size  and  weiglit.  Tlie  Common  Hare  (^Lepus 
Amerlvaims')  often  falls  a  victim  to  his  voracity.  Ducks, 
grouse,  squirrels,  and  small  birds,  arc  destroyed  by  him ; 
and  1  have  known  of  his  capturing  and  eating  snakes  and 
other  reptiles,  and  even  grasshoppers  and  crickets. 

In  hunting  for  prey,  he  usually  flies  just  above  the  trees 
in  the  forest,  and  quite  near  the  earth  in  the  open  country. 
His  fliglit  consists  of  a  rapid  succession  of  beatings  of  the 
wings,  witli  intervals  of  equal  periods  of  soarings.  On 
discovering  a  bird  or  other  object  that  he  may  wish  to 
capture,  he  immediately  gives  chase.  If  the  bird  takes  to 
the  foliage  of  the  trees,  he  immediately  follows,  turning  at 
every  turn,  doubling  and  twisting  through  the  trees  with 
wonderful  speed  and  success  ;  and  the  chase  is  usually  but 
a  very  short  one  indeed  before  he  alights  to  feed  on  the 
quarry  that  he  has  secured. 

He  is  very  destructive  to  the  flocks  of  young  ducks  that 
breed  in  the  wilder  districts  of  the  country.  I  rcmcmljer 
an  instance  of  one  of  his  raids  on  these  birds  that  is  not 
without  interest. 

While  on  a  hunting  and  collecting  excursion  in  the  wilds 
of  Maine,  up  the  Magalloway  River,  —  a  beautiful  stream 
that  empties  into  the  Androscoggin,  near  Lake  Umbagog,— 
I  wandered  dowr.  the  river  banks,  that  are,  for  nearly  the 
entire  length  of  the  stream,  fringed  with  a  thick  growth  of 
trees,  away  from  the  camp  perhaps  a  mile.  I  was  watching 
an  old  Black  Duck  {Anas  obscura)  and  her  brood  of  eight 
"flappers"  disporting  themselves  in  the  water,  and  impa- 
tiently waiting  for  an  opportunity  for  a  shot;  for,  kind 
reader,  I  can  assure  you  that  a  "  broiled  flapper,"  or  wild 
duck  about  half  grown,  is  a  delicacy  which,  once  enjoyed,  is 
eagerly  sought  for  ))y  the  frequenters  of  the  wilderness.  As 
I  was  creeping  cautiously  within  shot  of  the  birds,  I  sud- 
denly heard  a  "  quack''  and  splash,  and  the  whole  bevy  was 


hawk   would 


II 


^*i 


THE   cooper's   hawk.  £9 

gone.    At  that  instant,  a  Cooper's  ILuvk,  that  liad  evidently 
just  made  a  swoop  at  the  flock  and  missed  it,  alighted  on  -i 
small  tree  tliat  hung  over  the  water,  and  remained  perleetly 
motionless.      Now,  when  man  attempts  to  secure  any  o? 
these  young  ducks,  the  parent  almost  always  flies  off'  while 
tlie  young  dive  and  swim  under  water  to  the  banks  of  the 
stream  or  pond  where  they  may  be.     When  a  bird  of  prey 
makes  his  aj,pearanco,  the  whole  family  dives  beneath  the 
surlace,  and  swims  off;  the  motlier  in  one  direction    the 
young  in  another.     I  have  noticed  the  same  fact  several 
times,  and  conclude  that  the  parent,  who  frequenlly  makes 
her  appearance  above  the  surface,  does  so  because  she  is 
capable   of  enduring  submersion  better  than  her  youn.r 
and  shows  herself  oiten,  a  little  farther  from  her  offsprin"; 
every  time,  until  she  had   led  their  pursuer   away  from 
tliem ;  giving  them,  in  the  mean  time,  a  chance  to  swim  off 
and  conceal  themselves.     Tlie  hawk,  in  this  instance,  was 
not  to  be  deceived.     He  followed  the  parent  but  once,  and 
then  immediately  retur  led  to  his  perch.     The  banks  of  the 
river   at   tliis   j^ace  were  steep,  there  was    no  vegetation 
growing  m  the  water,  and  the  chances  for  obtaining  a  meal 
from  one  of  the  young  ducks  were  decidedly  in  tluT  hawk's 
favor. 

The  young  ducks  arc  very  expert  divers.     They  have  the 
faculty  of  .Inkinij  beneath  the  surface  at  any  alarm,  and 
will  remain  there  perhaps  half  a  minute.     Unfortunately 
lor  them,  they  cannot  swim  beneath  the  surface  a  great 
distance,  and  generally  come  up  quite  near  tlie  place  where 
they  went  down.     The  hawk  sat  attentively  inspecting  the 
river  in  dilfereut  places;    and,  as  one  of  the  young  birds 
made  its  appearance,  he  marked  it  for  his  victim.     The 
moment  it  rose  to  the  surface,  he  made  a  swoop  for  it 
wlien,  of  course,  it  dove.     This  was  repeated  several  times' 
the  young  duck   remaining  beneath   the  water  a  shorter 
length  of  time  at  each  dive.     Soon  it  was  manifest  that  the 
luuvk   would    obtain    his   quarry,   when,   as    he    flew   for 


30 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I   f 


mi 


the  duuk  tlie  last  time,  I  pulled  trigger  on  him;  for  we  aro 
all  eminently  selfisli,  and  when  one  of  the  lower  animals, 
as  we  regard  them,  interferes  with  iis  in  our  pleasures  or 
comforts,  even  if  they  are  fulfilling  tiie  dictates  of  their 
natures,  we  brush  them  from  existence,  as  if  ive  were  the 
only  riglitful  possessors  of  this  beautiful  world.  Fortu- 
nately for  the  hawk,  \infortunately  for  the  flapper,  and 
iniicli  to  my  chagrin,  the  cap  failed  ^-  lo'le,  and  tlie  poor 
duck  was  borne  oflF  for  food  for  the  i.  f  the  hawk. 

The  Cooper's  Hawk  breeds  in  all  the  .,ow-Englai-d  States, 
and  is  partial  to  no  particular  locality.  I  have  found  the 
nest  in  sections  not  a  mile  from  the  seacoast ;  in  the  deepest 
woods  of  Northern  Maine ;  and  liave  had  the  eggs  sent  me 
from  ditferent  localities  in  Rliode  Island,  Connecticut,  and 
New  Hampshire. 

Tlie  nest  of  this  species  is  more  often  found  than  that  of 
any  other.  In  my  collecting  trips,  my  experience  has  been 
that  I  have  found  certainly  two  nests  of  this  to  one  of  all 
others.  Audubon  says,  "  Tlie  nest  is  usually  placed  in  the 
forks  of  the  branch  of  an  oak-tree,  towards  its  extremity. 
In  its  general  appearance,  it  resemldes  that  of  the  common 
crow,  for  which  I  have  several  times  mistaken  it.  It  is  com- 
posed externally  of  numerous  crooked  sticks,  and  has  a  slight 
lining  of  grasses  and  a  few  feathers."  This  does  not  agree 
with  my  observation  ;  for,  in  great  niimbers  of  nests  that  I 
have  examined,  in  which  I  have  found  no  great  variation  in 
character,  they  were  almost  invarial)ly  in  a  fork  of  a  tall 
tree  near  the  top,  —  in  three  cases  out  of  five  in  the  ditfer- 
ent ^>//(t^s.  They  were  large,  bulky  affairs,  constructed  of 
twigs  and  sticks,  some  of  them  nearly  half  an  inch  in 
diameter:  they  were  decidedly  hollowed,  and  often  lined 
with  leaves  and  the  loose  bark  of  the  cedar.  The  eggs  of 
this  species  vary  in  number  from  two  to  four.  I  do  not 
remember  ever  having  found  more  than  four,  which  inunber 
is  usually  laid.  Their  ground-color  is  a  dirty  bluish-white, 
with  often   thinly   scattered   spots   of  brown,  or  obscure 


THE   SHARP-SHINNED   HAWK. 


31 


blotches  and  markings  of  a  sliado  darker  than  the  ground- 
color of  the  egg.  A  great  nunibor  of  specimens  in  my  col- 
lection exhibit  a  variation  in  dimensions  of  from  1.82  inch 
to  2  inclies  in  length,  by  from  l.oO  inch  to  1.G2  in  breadth. 
The  average  dimensions  are  abont  1.78  inch  by  1.52  inch. 
The  breeding  season  varies  considerably  with  this  species, 
even  in  the  same  latitude.  I  have  found  nests  with  eggs  as 
early  as  the  first  week  in  May,  and  as  late  as  the  first  week 
in  June.  Usually  the  eggs  are  laid  before  the  20th  of  May 
in  Massachusetts.  The  season  for  the  northern  district  of 
New  England  seems  to  be  from  one  to  two  weeks  later  than 
this ;  that  of  the  southern  district,  about  a  week  earlier. 

A  pair  of  birds  that  nested  in  Newton,  Mass.,  in  the 
summer  of  1800,  were  robbed  of  their  eggs  four  times  in 
tlie  season.  They  built  different  nests  in  the  same  grove, 
and  laid  in  the  four  litters  four,  four,  five,  and  three  eggs 
respectively.  The  eggs  of  the  last  litter  were  very  small ; 
but  little  larger  than  the  eggs  of  the  Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 


-f^       ACCIPITEE  FUSCUS.  —  Gwe/m. 
The  Sharp-shinned  Hawk. 

Fdkn/iisctis  et  rhibiiis,  Gm.    Syst.  Nut.,  I.  280,  2S1  (1788). 

Acci/iihr  striiiliis,  Vicillot.     Ois.  il'Ain.  Sypt.,  I.  42  (1807). 

Fdku  vehx  et  Pennsi/lvdiiicus,  Wilson.     Am.  Oni.,  V.  IIG,  and  VI.  p.  13  (1812). 

S/mn-ius  liiieati/s,  Vieillot.    Ency.  Mctli.,  III.  1200  (1823). 

Nisiis  Mtiljuii,  Lesson.    Traite  d'Orn.,  I.  08  (1831). 

Description. 

AiMt.  —  f>mi\\\;  tail  rntlier  long;  legs  and  toes  slender;  entire  upper  parts 
browni.sli-blaek,  tin;;ed  with  ashy;  occiput  mixed  with  white;  throat  and  under  tail 
coverts  white,  the  former  with  lines  of  blaek  on  the  shafts  of  the  feathers;  other 
under  parts  tine  light  rufous,  deepest  on  the  til)i!c,  and  with  trans\erse  bands 
of  white;  shafts  of  the  feathers  with  lines  of  dark-l)rown;  tail  ashv-brown  tipped 
with  white,  and  with  abo'  t  four  bands  of  brownish-bhick;  quills  brownish-blaek, 
with  bands  of  a  darker  shade,  and  of  white  on  their  inner  webs;  secondaries  and 
tertiaries  with  large  partially  concealed  s|K)ts  of  white. 

rouH//.  — Entire  upper  parts  dull  umber-brown,  tinged  with  ashy;  neck  behind 
mixed  with  white;  greater  wing  coverts  and  shorter  quills  with  large  partially  con- 
cr.ded  spots  of  white;  under  parts  white,  with  longitudinal  stripes  and  circular  and 
ovate  spots  of  reddish-brown,  changing  into    transverse    bands    on  the    flanks 


if 


32 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


?* 


and  tibiiu;  under  tail  coverts  white;  bill  dark  bluish  horn-eolor;    cere  and  tursi 
yellow;  iris  reddish-yellow. 

Total  k'ii.;th  of  foinale,  twelve  to  fourteen  inches;  winp,  seven  and  a  half  to 
eight;  tail,  six  and  a  half  to  seven  inches.  Male,  ten  to  eleven  inches;  wing,  six 
to  six  and  a  half;  tail,  live  to  live  and  a  half  inches. 

This  woU-kuowu  little  species  is  a  general  and  common 
sunimcr  inhabitant  of  all  the  New-Enu'land  States :  it 
ma  Ives  its  a|)i)earance  with  the  arrival  of  the  earliest  fiiglit 
of  the  smaller  migratory  birds  in  spring,  and  remains  until 
the  latter  part  of  autmnn  ;  and,  in  the  southern  ])ortions  of 
these  States,  even  throughout  the  winter.  Tlie  hal)its  of  the 
bird  are  so  well  descril)ed  by  Anduljon,  that  I  cannot  do 
better  than  include  the  description  here.     He  says  :  — 

"  While  in  search  of  prey,  the  Sliarp-shiniied  ILiwk  passes 
over  the  coinitry,  now  at  a  modorate  height,  now  elose  over  the 
land,  in  so  swift  a  maimer,  that,  although  your  eye  has  marked  it, 
you  feel  surprised  that  the  very  next  moment  it  has  dashed  off,  and 
is  far  away.  In  fact,  it  is  usually  seen  when  least  expected, 
and  almost  always  but  for  a  few  moments,  unless  when  it  has 
procured  some  prey,  and  is  engaged  in  feeding  upon  it.  The  kind 
of  vacillation  or  wavering  with  whicli  it  moves  througli  the  Jiir 
appears  perfectly  adapted  to  its  wants  ;  for  it  undoubtedly  enables 
this  little  warrior  to  watch  and  to  see  at  a  single  quick  glance  of  its 
keen  eyes  every  object,  whether  to  the  right  or  to  the  '"ft,  as  it  pur- 
sues its  course.  It  advances  by  sudden  dashes,  as  il  tiiosity 
of  movement  were  essential  to  its  nature,  and  pounces  i,,  and 
strikes  such  objects  as  best  suit  its  tippetite,  but  so  very  sun  W 
that  it  appears  cpiite  hopeless  for  any  of  them  to  try  to  esca| 
Many  have  been  the  times,  reader,  when  watching  this  vigiliiiit, 
active,  and  industrious  bird,  I  have  seen  it  i)lun'ie  lieadloiiir  anuino- 
the  briery  patches  of  one  of  our  old  lields,  in  defiance  of  all  thorny 
obstacles  ;  and,  passing  tlu-ough,  emerge  on  the  other  side,  bearing 
off  with  exultation  in  its  sharp  claws  a  s})arrow  or  finch,  which  it 
had  surprised  when  at  rest.  At  other  times,  I  have  seen  two  or 
three  of  these  hawks,  acting  in  concert,  fly  at  a  Golden-winged 
Woodpecker  while  alighted  against  tlie  bark  of  a  tree,  where  it 
thought  itself  secure,  but  was  suddeidy  clutched  by  one  of  the 
hawks  throwing,  as  it  were,  its  long  legs  with  the  quickness  of 


•  '*i 


.^ 


}»■/ 


',/■■ 


SM: 


.'nH  Alil'-SIUNXKK    1  \  A  W 


I'Viii  niiH  a  Dulf  ti 
■■  ■  II  iiubcs;   "vilijr,  fij- 


■I    ftM'1    Cf»nUll'i!l 


lllli..-.   UliMl 

iMir'ioii.H  of 


na<N<' 


'^ii.-a  .III ,  .(111 


The  kiihl 

.',  i!k'.  air 

■  ivu  (if  its 
•  ii  ]in!-- 

.   iL'tUUsitA- 
'j)0!!    ;il|(l 

-in'uieuK- 

•  trv  to  esi-npt.'. 

vigiiiuit, 

•t'  nil  tlioniy 

'ilo   hcariiii;- 

fiut'h,  wliioli  it, 

li  two  or 

'-  *  >'i  !rii-\vingHil 

I  fr*»<;,  vvliere  it- 

i   by  oue  of  thv 

i.e  tiiiiekijess  of 


II 


hUAKi'-SIl 


-=*._ 


^i^a 


hUAKi'-siiKNNED    lUwK,  Acccfiter  fuscus.      JloiiiipaiKj. 


!  1. 


I 

If  ' 


tlioviylit,  prol 
Imek  of  tli(! 
tho  lianvHuiii;! 
trt'o.  TluMi 
fall,  fill)  won 
liiiwk  would 
its  vitalH,  pill 
ut  01100  coinn 

Nuttnll  ii 
upon  its  qui 
the  gluHS  t 
(itinluu ;  an 
titiou,  li(3  y, 
tlioiigli  litth 
much  turn 
iiu[)C(le(l  as 

Whilst  tn 
thu  Sharji-sl 
mamicr,  wit 
tiiuus,  as  ir 
holow,  move 
seen  to  dcHc 
lieiglit  of  01 
wore,  every 
1)0  inhuhited 
I'ootls.  Agai 
rises  to  a  gri 
discernihle  f 

Notwithsti 
cios,  its  lies 
found.  Aiu: 
nor  Nut  tall  ( 
liiid  several, 
wore  huilt  in 
from  tho  gn 
and  twigs,  v 


THE   HIIARP-HHINNKI)    HAWK.  88 

tliiuiylit,  protrutlinf,'  its  sliarp  talons,  and  tlini«tiii({  tliciii  into  tho 
Imck  of  tlio  devoted  bird,  while  it  was  ciidcavoring  to  elii<lo 
tho  haraN,sin«,'  attacks  of  unotlier,  liy  hoi»pinjr  and  twiHtin;,'  around  tho 
tree.  'I'lien  (h)wn  to  tho  ground  a,s»ailant8  and  UHMailed  wouhl 
fall,  till)  woodpecker  still  oH'erin;,'  jrreat  resiHtance,  until  a  second 
hawk  would  also  Hcizo  u[»oii  it,  and,  with  daWH  deeply  thr.--*  into 
its  vitals,  put  an  end  to  its  life,  when  both  tho  luuruudurs  would 
at  onco  coinnienco  their  repast." 

Nuttall  inforiuH  us  that  "  dcscoiulinjr  furiotialy  nnd  hiiiujly 
upon  its  quariy,  a  younj,'  hawk  of  this  species  hfoko  through 
tho  glass  of  tho  grecuhouso  at  tho  Canihridgo  Botanic 
tiardon  ;  anil,  fearlessly  [)assing  through  a  second  j^ass  par- 
tition, he  was  only  brought  up  by  tlie  third,  and  caught, 
though  little  stunned  by  the  elfort.  His  wing-feathers  wero 
much  torn  by  tho  glass,  and  his  flight  in  this  way  so 
impeded  as  to  allow  of  his  being  approached." 

Whilst  travelling  to  some  point  at  a  considerable  distance, 
the  Sharii-shinned  Hawk  flies  high,  though  in  a  desultory 
manner,  with  irregular  quick  flappings  of  its  wings;  and  at 
times,  as  if  to  pause  for  a  while  and  examine  the  objects 
below,  moves  in  short  and  une(|ual  circles,  after  which  it  is 
seen  to  descend  rapidly,  and  then  follow  its  course  at  the 
height  of  only  a  few  feet  from  t\"^  ground,  visiting,  as  it 
were,  every  clump  of  low  bushes  or  brier  patches  likely  to 
he  inhabited  by  the  smaller  birds,  on  which  it  principally 
feeds.  Again,  after  having  satisfied  its  hunger,  it  at  times 
rises  to  a  great  height,  and  indeed  now  and  then  is  scarcely 
discernible  from  the  ground. 

Notwithstanding  the  com{)arative  abundance  of  this  spe- 
cies, its  nest,  until  quite  recently,  has  been  quite  rarely 
found.  Audubon  met  with  but  three,  and  neither  Wilson 
nor  Nuttall  ever  saw  one.  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to 
find  several,  two  of  which  had  in  each  four  eggs.  Tliey 
were  built  in  the  forks  of  pine-trees,  about  twenty-five  feet 
from  the  ground :  they  were  loosely  constructed  of  sticks  ' 
and  twigs,  were  not  much  hollowed,  and  were  lined  with 

3 


w 


34 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


smaller  twigs  and  a  few  leaves.    Fourteen  eggs  in  my  col- 
lection, from  differeni  parts  of  New  England,  exhioit  but 
slight  variations ;    they  are  of  a  bluish-white   color,  and 
covered   at  the   larger   end  with   spots   and  blotches    oi 
chocolate-brown :  in  some  specimens  these  blotches  are  con- 
fluent, making  a  ring  near  the  large   end;i   others   are 
covered  nearly  over  their  entire  surface  with  these  markmgs. 
The  form  of  the  egg  is  nearly  spherical;  the  length  varyuig 
from  1.50  inch  to  1.23  inch,  aid  the  breadth  from^l.24 
inch  to  1.06  inch.     Average  dimensions  about  1.40  inch  by 
1.20  inch.     I  have  found  the  eggs  as  early  as  the  dOth  of 
May;  but  usually  they  are  not  laid  before  the  20th,  in  the 
latitude  of  Massachusetts.     The  same  nest  is  occupied  by 
the  parent  birds  for  several  years,  and  the  female  is  a  per- 
sistent layer.     A  case  came  to  my  knowledge  in  the  <»pring 
of  1864,  when  the  nest  was  robbed  three  times :  fourteen 
eggs  were  removed;  and,  if  the  female  had  not  been  killed 
when  the  last  eggs  were  taken,  she  would  probably  have 
laid  another  litter,  as   there  were   several  found  in   her 
nearly  formed.     Both  sexes,  as  with  nearly  all  the  other 
birds  of  prey,  incubate. 


Suh-Famihj  Buteonin.e.—  The  Biizzard-Hmvhs. 

General  form  heavy;  flight  vigorous  and  long  continued,  but  not  so  rapid  as  in 
the  preceding  sub-families.    Subsist  mainly  on  small  quadrupeds  and  reptiles. 

BUTEO,  CuviER. 

Bideo,  CuviER,  Regne  Animal,  I.  323  (1817). 

Bill  short,  wide  at  base;  edges  of  upper  mandible  lobcd;  nostrils  large,  ovate, 
win-s  long,  wide,  fourth  and  iirtli  quills  usually  longest;  tail  moderate,  rather  wide; 
tar«"  moderate,  robust,  with  transverse  scales  before  and  behind,  laterally  with  small 
circular  and  hexagonal  scaks;  toes  moderate,  or  rather  short;  claws  strong.  Con- 
tains about  thirty  species,  inhabiting  all  countries. 


1  The  specimen,  fig.  3,  plate  L,  is  marked  with  a  ring  of  confluent  blotches  at  the 
mailer  end,  a  peculiarity  rarely  met  with. 


I| 


I  I'l 


<"■  1 


.^r 


^>Sv 


I ',3 


I 


>mi 


ir 

f: 

■|'- 

|r 

lii  .  K.    tiji|,i'i'    i:ill 

■'l!      it    \.  ■;    i        u-l' 


Falco  borea 
Falco  (iquih 
JJuteo  fern 
Accijitler  ri 
BuliiU  fulvu, 


Adult.— T  a 

nnl  bmid  of  bl 

edgings  on  the 

brown  spots  ai 

other  under  pai 

brown   tinged  i 

band  across  th 

wliite,  unspotte 

h"ght  rufous;  ui 

I'uuiif/.  —  Ti 

tlie  same  color 

bands  of  dark- 

with  dull  whitt 

white,  sides  of  i 

irregular  band 

coverts  and  tibi 

bill,  blue-black; 

iris  pale  amber. 

Total  length 

inches;  tail,  eig 

Iburtecn  inches ; 

Tlie  Red 
Ncw-Eiiglai 
so  well  klK 
Every  one  1: 
able  lieig'lit, 
oft-repeated 
beneath  liiii 
the  bird  enii 
notice  of  bi 
fly  to  a  plac 
of  their  yvh 
for  he  is  c 
towards  a  I 


THE  RED-TAILED   HAWK. 


BUTEO  BOREALIS.  — FiieiVto. 


85 


The  Eed-tailed  Hawk. 

Fako  borealis,  Leverianm,  and  Jamakensis,  Gm.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  266  (1788) 

Fiilco  (iqiiUhiiis,  Wiwinim.     Tniv.,  p.  290  (17S>1). 

Butco  fa-ruyiimcaudus,  Vieillot.    Ois.  d'Am.  Sept.,  I.  32  (1807). 

Accipiler  rujicamhis,  Vieillot.    Ois.  d'Am.  Sept.,  I.  4C  (1807). 

Bulm  fulvuus  and  Amerkaims,  Vieillot,    Nouv.  Diet.,  IV.  472,  477  (1816). 

Dksciuption. 

A,1nlt.-Ta.\\  bright  rufous,  narrowly  tipped  with  white,  and  having  a  subtermi- 
nal  baud  ot  black;  entire  upper  parts  dark  umber-brown,  lighter  and  with  fulvous 
edgmgs  on  the  head  and  neek;  upper  tail  eoverts  yellowi.h-white,  with  rufous  and 
brown  spots  and  bands;  throat  white,  with  narrow  longitudinal  stripes  of  brown- 
other  under  parts  pale  yellowish-white,  with  longitudinal  lines  and  spots  of  reddish- 
bnnvn  tn.ged  with  fulvous;  most  numerous  on  the  breast,  and  forming  an  irregular 
band  across  the  abd.nnen;  under  tail  coverts  and  tibi*  generally  clear  vellowi.h- 
white,  unspotted,  but  the  latter  fre.,uently  spotted  and  transversely  barred  with 
light  rufous;  under  surface  of  tail  siKery-white. 

ro«ny._  Tail  usually  ashy-brown,  with  numerous  bands  of  a  darker  shade  of 
the  same  color,  and  narrowly  tipped  with  white;  upper  tail  coverts  white,  with 
bands  ot  dark-brown;  other  upper  parts  dark  umber-brown,  manv  feathers  ed-ed 
with  dul  white  and  with  partially  concealed  spots  of  white;  en'tire  under  parts 
white,  sides  of  the  breast  with  large  ovate  spots  of  brownish-black,  and  with  a  wide 
irreguh.r  band  on  the  abdomen,  composed  of  spots  of  the  same  color;  under  tail 
coverts  and  tibia3  with  irregular  transverse  stripes  and  sagittate  spots  of  dark-brown; 
bdl,  blue-black;  cere  and  sides  of  the  mouth,  yellow  tinged  with  green;  legs  yellow 
ins  pale  amber.  >     t>    j  i 

Total  length  of  female,  about  twenty-three  inches;  wing,  fifteen  to  sixteen 
mches;  tail,  eight  and  a  half  inches.  Male,  nineteen  to  twentv-one  inches;  wintr 
lourteen  inches;  tail,  seven  and  a  half  to  eight  inches.  ' 

The  Red-tailed  Hawk  is  a  common  resident  of  all  the 
New-England  States  throiighont  the  year.  Its  habits  are 
so  well  known  that  a  description  here  is  hardly  needed. 
Every  one  has  noticed  this  hawk  up  in  the  air,  at  a  consider- 
able height,  soaring  in  extended  circles,  and  uttering  the 
oft-repeated  cry,  kae,  Icae,  kae,  as  he  examines  the  earth 
l)encath  him  for  prey.  Audubon  was  of  the  opinion,  that 
the  bird  emitted  this  shriek  for  the  purpose  of  attracting  the 
notice  of  birds  and  animals  beneath,  and  causing  them  to 
fly  to  a  place  of  concealment,  thus  giving  him  a  knowledge 
of  their  whereabouts.  This  supposition  is  not  improbable ; 
for  he  is  often  observed  descending  with  great  rapidity 
towards  a  bird  that  has  taken  flight  at  his  outcries. 


86 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


This  Hawk  is  very  dostructivc  among  domestic  poultry, 
and  is  generally  regarded  with  dislike.  I  have  known  of 
instances  when  he  has  almost  completely  depopulated  a 
poultry-yard  before  he  could  be  captured. 

It  is  the  custom  of  the  Hawk,  when  he  has  once  had  a 
taste  of  a  flock  of  fowls,  to  visit  it  regularly  every  day  at 
about  the  same  time :  sometimes  in  the  afternoon,  oftener 
in  the  morning. 

The  moment  his  cry  is  heard,  the  shrill  alarm  of  the  cock 
is  given,  when  the  hens  run  hither  and  thither,  cackling, 
and  adding  to  their  own  affrigiit ;  the  guinea-fowls  rattle 
their  discordant  notes  ;  tlie  mother  with  her  chickens  becomes 
almost  frantic  in  her  efforts  to  protect  her  young  from 
the  inevitable  destroyer.  In  the  midst  of  this  clatter,  the 
pirate  who  has  been  its  sole  cause  comes  on  eager  wing, 
and,  selecting  the  fattest  of  the  flock,  pounces  upon  it,  ayd, 
with  scarcely  an  effort,  bears  it  off  to  feast  his  mate  and 
young.  The  Ruffed  Grouse  {Bonasa  nmhellus)  and  Com- 
mon Iliirc  iLepus  Americanm)  both  fall  victims ;  and  the 
number  he  destroys  is  very  great. 

The  Rod-Tailed  Hawk  builds  its  aest  in  a  lofty  fork  of  a 
large  tree.  The  nest  is  one  of  the  largest  of  our  rai)acious 
birds,  —  ill  one  case,  to  my  knowledge,  exceeding  two  feet 
in  Avidth  and  twenty  inches  in  depth.  It  is  constructed  of 
large  sticks  and  twigs ;  is  but  slightly  liollowed ;  and  is 
lined  with  smaller  twigs,  leaves,  and  moss.  The  eggs  are 
generally  three  in  number,  seldom  more:  their  ground- 
eolor  is  a  dirty  yellowish-white,  with  blotches  of  a  yellow- 
ish-brown, and  sometimes  distinct  Ijlotches  of  a  darker 
brown.  Their  form  varies  from  nearly  spherical  to  ovoidal ; 
but  they  are,  in  general,  nearly  as  large  at  one  eiul  as  at  the 
other.  Dimensions  of  specimens  vary  from  2.12  to  2.25 
inches  in  length,  by  from  1.68  to  2  inches  in  breadth. 

Three  eggs  that  I  took  from  a  nest  in  the  southern  part 
of  Ohio,  early  in  the  month  of  April,  measure  2.18  by  1.62  ; 
2.14  by  1.70;   and  2.20  by  2  inches,  ' 


averaging  a  little 


THE   UED-SIIOULDERKD    HAWK. 


87 


smaller  than  specimens  collected  in  New  England  These 
eggs  must  have  been  laid  by  the  25th  of  March.  In  New 
England,  they  are  seldom  laid  before  the  last  week  in  April 
to  the  iirst  week  in  May. 


BUTEO   LINEATUS.-Jnrr/ine. 

The  Bed-shouldered  Hawk. 
Falco  Uneatm  and  hjemnlh,  (Jm.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  2G8,  274  (1788) 
/Wfo  6«<eo«/e«,  Nuttull.    Man.,  I.  loo  (1st  edition,  1832). 

DKSClaiTION. 

Adult. -^X\r.S  coverts  from  if.s  floxuro  to  the  body,  fine  bright  rufous:  breast 
and  other  lower  parts  of  the  body  „aler  orange  rufou.s,  many  feathL  with  t  a  ,  "i! 
bars  aud  spots  ot  wiute,  which  predon.inate  on  the  abdon.en  and  under  tail  eove  •  s  • 
eutn-e  upper  parts  brown,  on  the  head  n.ixed  with  rutbus,  and  with  white  spots  on 
the  wn,g  coverts  and  shorter  quills  and  run.p ;  ,udls  browni^l.-black,  with  whi  e  spo 
on  the.r  outer  webs  aud  with  bars  of  a  lighter  shad,  of  brown  l.nd  of  white  "m 
the.r  n„,erwe  s,  tad  brownish-black,  with  about  five  transverse  bands  of  white 
aud  tipped  with  white.  "■mi, 

1 "«»//. -iMitire  upper  parts  yellowish-white,  with  longitudinal  stripes  and 
obong  spot,,  ot  dark-browu;  throat  ,lark  brown;  upper  parts  lighter  ash'-brown 
v.ith  many  partially  couceale.l  spot.s  an.l  bars  of  white;  ,,uills  .lark-brown,  with 
w„le  transverse  bars  of  rufous  and  white  on  both  webs,  tail  ashy-brown  with 
uuiuerous  bauds  o  pale-browuish  and  rufous  white;  tail  beneath  silverv-wbite- 
hill  bght-blue  at  the  base,  bluish-black  at  the  tip;  cere,  basal  margin  of 'the  bill 
edges  ot  the  eyelids  and  the  feet,  briglit-vellow;  iris  hazel. 

Total  length,  fe-nale,  twiity-one  to  tweuty-.hree  inches;  ,viiig,  fourteen;  tail, 
nine  inches.    Male,  eighteen  to  twenty  inches ;  wii.g,  twelve ,  fail,  eight  inches. 

Tliis  bird  is  a  rather  common  resident  of  all  New  En<>-- 
land  throughout  the  year.  Its  habits  are  so  nearly  like 
those  of  the  preceding,  that  I  can  add  nothing  to  that  I 
have  already  written. 

The  best  account  of  the  bird's  habits  in  the  breeding 
season,  that  I  remember,  is  given  by  Audubon.  It  is  as 
follows  :  — 

'•  This  bird  is  one  of  the  mo.«t  noisy  of  its  genus,  durincT  spi-in- 
ospecii.lly,  wl.en  it  would  bo  dillicult  to  ap],i-oafli  the  skirts  of  woods 
bordering  a  large  plantation  without  hearing  its  discordant  shrill 
uot^^,  — ka-hee,  ka./>ee,  —  ixs  it  is  seen  sailing  in  rapid  circles  at  a 
vtry  great  elevation.     Its  ordinary  flight  is  even  and  protracted, 


88 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


excepting  when  it  is  describing  the  circles  just  mentioned,  whenit 
often  dives  and  gambols.  It  is  a  more  general  inhabitant  ot  the 
woods  than  most  of  our  other  species,  particularly  durmg  the  sum- 
mer, and  in  autumn  and  winter;  t.ow  and  then  only,  in  early  spru.g, 
showing  itself  in  the  open  grounds,  and  about  the  vicinity  of  smal 
lakes,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  red-winged  starlings  and  wounded 

duCKS 

"The  interior  of  woods  seems,  as  I  have  said,  the  fittest  haunts 
for  the  Eed-shouldered  Hawk.     He  sails  through  them  a  few  yards 
above   the  ground,  and  suddenly  alights  on  the  low  branch  of  a 
tree  or  the  top  of  a  dead  stump,  from  which  he  silently  watches, 
in  an  erect  posture,  for  the  appearance  of  squirrels,  upon  which 
he  pounces  directly,  and   kills    in  an  instant,  afterwards  devour- 
incr  them  on  the  ground.     If  accidentally  discovered,  he  essays  to 
remove  the  squirrel;  but,  finding  this  difficult,  he  drags  it,  partly 
through  the  air  and  partly  along  the  ground,  to  soi.ie  short  distance, 
until  lie  conceives  himself  out  of  sight  of  the  intruder,  when  he 
,.ai.i  commences  feeding.     The  eating  of  a  whole  squirrel,  which 
this  bird  often  devours  at  one  meal,  so  gorges  it,  that  I  have  seen 
it  in  this  state  almost  unable  to  fly,  and  with  such  an  extraordinary 
protuberance  on  its  breast  as  seemed  very  unnatural,  and  very 
iniurious  to  the  beauty  of  form  which  the  bird  usually  displays. 
On  all  occasions  such  as  I  have  described,  when   the  bird  is  so 
.ror-cd,  it  is  approached  with  the  greatest  ease.     On  the  contrary, 
when  it  is  in  want  of  food,  it  requires  the  greatest  caution  to  get 
within  shooting  distance  of  it. 

"  At  the  approach  of  spring,  this  species  begins  to  pair ;  and  its 
fli-rht  is  accompanied  with  many  circlings  and  zigzag  motions, 
du'riiKr  which  it  emits  its  shrill  cries.  The  male  is  particularly 
noisylit  this  time.  He  gives  chase  to  all  other  hawks,  returns  to 
the  branch  on  which  his  mate  has  chanced  to  perch,  and  caresses 
her.  This  happens  about  the  beginning  of  ISIarch.'  Ihe  spot 
adapted  for  a  nest  is  already  fixed  upon,  and  the  fabric  is  halt 
finished.  The  top  of  a  tall  tree  appears  to  be  preferred  by  this 
hawk,  as  I  have  found  its  nest  more  commonly  placed  there,  not 
far  from  the  edges  of  woods  bordering  plantations. 

"When  one  ascends  to  the  nest  (which,  by  the  way,  is  not 

1  May  in  New  England. 


THE  RED-SHOULDERED   HAWK. 


89 


always  an  easy  matter,  as  our  beech-trees  are  not  only  very 
smooth,  but  frequently  without  any  boughs  to  a  considerable  dis- 
tance from  the  jfround,  as  well  as  of  rather  large  size),  the  female 
bird,  if  she  happens  to  be  sitting,  liies  off  silently,  and  alights  on  a 
neighboring  tree  to  wait  the  result;  but  should  the  male,  who 
supplies  her  with  food,  and  assists  in  incubation,  be  there,  or  make 
his  api)earance,  he  immediately  sets  up  a  hue  and  cry,  and  plunges 
toward  the  assailant  with  such  violence  as  to  astonish  him. 

"  When,  on  several  occasions,  I  have  had  the  tree,  on  which  the 
nest  was  placed,  cut  down,  I  have  observed  the  same  pair,  a  few 
days  after,  build  another  nest  on  a  tree  not  far  distant  from  the 
spot  in  which  the  first  one  had  been. 

"  The  mutual  attachment  of  the  male  and  the  female  continues 
during  life.  They  usually  hunt  in  pairs  during  the  whole  year ; 
and,  although  they  build  a  new  nest  every  spring,  they  are  fond  of 
resorting  to  the  same  parts  of  the  woods  for  that  })urpose.' 

"  The  young  remain  in  the  nest  until  fully  Hedged,  and  are  fed 
by  the  parents  for  several  weeks  after  they  have  begun  to  fly  ;  but 
leave  them,  and  begin  to  shift  for  themselves,  in  about  a  month, 
when  they  disperse,  and  hunt  separately,  until  the  approach  of  the 
succeeding  spring,  at  which  time  they  pair. 

"  This  Hawk  seldom  attacks  any  kind  of  poultry,  and  yet  fre- 
quently pounces  on  partridges,  doves,  or  wild  pigeons,  as  well  as 
red-winged  blackbirds,  and  now  and  then  young  rabbits.  On  one 
or  two  occasions,  I  have  seen  them  make  their  appearance  at  the 
report  of  my  gun,  and  try  to  rob  me  of  some  blue-winged  teals, 
shot  in  small  {muds.  I  have  never  seen  them  chase  any  other 
small  birds  than  those  mentioned,  or  quadrupeds  of  smaller  size 
than  the  Cotton  Kat." 

My  experience  has  been  difTerent  from  the  above  para- 
gra[)]i ;  for  I  have  known  of  this  Ilawk  attacking  poultry, 
and,  even  several  times  in  the  same  flock,  killing  a  fowl  each 
time.  The  breeding  habits  of  this  and  the  Red-tailed  Hawk 
are  so  exactly  similar,  that  the  above  description  well 
answers  for  both. 

1  I  liave  known  of  the  same  nest  being  occupied  by  a  pair  of  these  birds  for 
several  seasons.  —  E.  A.  S. 


I 


^ 


nf 


40 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I  liave  found  several  nests  of  tliis  species  in  dilfrrent 
localities,  all  of  whieli  were  placed  in  liij?li  forks  of  trees. 
Tliey  were  built  of  twigs  and  sticks  of  dilferent  sizes,  and 
usually  were  of  large  size.  A  nest  that  I  found  in  Milton, 
:Mass.,  was  built  in  a  fork  of  a  largo  oak,  against  the  trunk, 
about  forty  feet  from  the  ground.  It  was  of  a  bulk  nearly 
sullicicnt  to  fdl  a  basket :  it  was  considerably  hollowed,  and 
lined  with  dry  grass  and  leaves.  The  eggs,  two  in  number, 
are  in  the  cabinet  of  Dr.  Brewer,  who  describes  them  as 
follows :  — 

"  Two  others  belonging  to  tliis  species,  obtained  in  Milton,  ISIass., 
by  Mr.  K.  A.  Samuels,  and  identified  by  securing  the  parent  birds, 
may  be  tluis  dcscribi^d :  One  measures  2-,^  by  11||.  incli.  The 
ground-color  is  a  dirty-white,  and  is  marked  witli  large  blotches, 
lines,  and  dottings  of  uniber-brown  of  various  shades,  A-om  (juito 
dark  to  light.  The  other  is  2  inches  by  1||{,  has  a  bluish-white 
ground,  and  is  only  marked  by  a  nund)er  of  very  faint  blotches  of 
yellowish-brown  and  a  slute-drab.  Except  in  their  shape,  which  is 
an  oval  spheroid,  slightly  pointed  at  one  end,  these  hear  hut  very 
slight  resemblance  to  each  other,  though  taken  at  the  same  time 
from  one  nest." 

A  numbair  of  specimens  in  my  collection  exhibit  as  great 
a  variety  as  the  above  instances ;  and  one  specimen,  obtained 
in  Connecticut,  which  measures  2.12  by  1.(35  inches,  has  a 
dirty  yellowish-white  ground-color,  which  is  nearly  covered 
with  blotches  of  faint-purple  ;  the  a{)pearance  being  as  if 
the  purple  spots  were  laid  on,  and  then  a  coating  of  white- 
wash laid  over  them. 

BUTEO  PENNSYLVANICUS.—  Bonaparte. 
The  Broad-winged  Hawk. 

Fnlco  Pennsykanlciis,  Wilson.   Am.  Orn.,  VI.  92  (1812).    And.  Orn.  Biog.,  1. 161. 
Falcu  Wilsonii,  lionuparte.    Jour.  Pliiia.  Acad.,  III.  348  (1824). 

DKSCiiirTioN. 

AduU.  —  Entire  iipjier  parts  umljer-brown ;  featliors  on  the  occiput  and  back  of 
the  necli  white  at  tlieir  bases;  tliroat  white,  with  longitudinal  lines  of  brown,  and 


■f  j 


THE   DUOAD-WINGKD   HAWK. 


41 


brtUHt  «,t  ,  «  uHlo  band  c p,..,.,.!  of  larKo  cordafc  an,l  H«Kittat,.  Hi.ots  an.l  tranH 

ver.e  bands  ot  ruddiM-ferruKinons  .!„«,.,  with  asl.y;  otl...  ^ndor  „  r,    w     . ' "    h 
n  merouH  .aKi..u.e  .,„.«  of  r.ddisi.  .„■  „...  ^au^;,  al.do.....,.,  and',     I        /^ 

u,Hh..-    ad  ...vcrrs,  and  all  ,1...  ,..1...  have  lar,.  circular  .„•  ova'te  .,  . "     'wl    e 
on  bn, h  c.d«.,s;  nnd..r  ,a.l  coverts  white;  ,,uills  browni.h-blaek,  .id  iy  borde     1 
M:.th  white  on  the.r  n.ner  web.n,  tail  dark-brown.  nam.wlv  tip.ul  with  white  a 
w.th  one  w.de  band  of  white  »nd  several  narrower  bands  n.ar  the  base 

l..«»v.-- Upper  parts  dull  und.er-brown,  many  feathers  ed^ed  with'  fLdvou8  and 
ashy-wh.to;  upper  tail  coverts  spotted  with  white,    under  .wts  wh  t      ,.  ,    r, 
tn,Ked  w.th  yellow.sh   an.l  having  lonKitndinal  stripes  an.l  oblon,^  and  Imueo  ate 
spots  o    brow.nsh-blaek;  a  stripe  ,„  dark-brown  on  eaeh  side  of  tl'e  neck  tl 

base  01  the  under  mandible,  tail  brown,  with  several  bands  of  a  darker    I     le,' 
h     same  color    and  of  white  on  the  inner  webs,  and  narrowlv  tipped  with  vite 
Bdl    du.h  black  at  the  tip.  blue  towards  the  base,  cere  and  maJJin  vellow 
hazel;   teet  KandioKe-yellow;   claws  brownish-black.  ' 

Total  len^^tl,  femak^  seventeen  to  ei,d,teen  inches,  win^^  eleven,  tail,  six  and  a 
half  to  even  n.ches  Male,  total  length,  sixteen  to  sixtec.t  and  a  half  inches;  winy" 
ten  inches,  tail,  six  to  six  and  a  half  inches.  *" 

_    This  bird,  until  quite  recently,  has  been  regarded  as  rare 
m  all  the  New-England  States;  and  even  now  it  is  by  no 
means  eonunon,  although  it  is  mueii  oftoner  found  here  than 
lornierly.      It  occurs  in   these  States  only  as   a  siunmer 
visitor,  arriving  in  the  spring  about  the  middle  of  April  and 
departing   for   the   South  in  October.     The  flight  of' this 
Ifawk  is  quite  rapid,  consisting  of  l.ing  intervals"of  soarin-r 
with  shorter  periods  of  ilappings  of  the  wings.     It  seem^  t^I) 
j.reler  the  wilder  districts  to  the  more  thickly  .settled  ones 
and  IS  most  often  mot  with  in  the  interior  of  the  country' 
1  noticed  several  individuals,  in  the  course  of  a  day's  march 
in  Northern  Maine,  soaring  above  the  hemlock  and  pine 
forests,    and    uttering   their   shrill   key,  hj-ah,   h,-ah-ke-ee 
ke-ee,  as  they  were  searching  for  prey  beneath  them.     Small 
birds,  reptiles,  s(iuirrels,  and  insects  constitute  the  princii)al 
portion  of  their  ibod;  and  they  seldom  attack  a  bird  larger 
than  a  {)igeoii  or  (juail. 

Once,  while  listening  to  the  beautiful  song  of  the  White- 
throate.l  Sparrow,  I  was  startled  by  the  sudden  appearance 
of  one  of  these  hawks,  which,  flying  within  a  yard  of  my 
head,  as  I  sat  in  some  bushes  on  the  shores  of  Lake  Umba- 


i- 


'i\ 


^2  OUNITIIOI.OCY    AND   OOLOGY. 

goR,  ponncoa  at  a  Red  S.,uirrol  (,V.  IlMus}    that  wa« 
ehatt:..in,  at  n.c  IVo.n  the   t,.p  nf   a  lu    ow  «  j'-P '    ^ 
Huuinol  barely  escapoa  by  diving  into  Ih.  bollow,  wl  ou 
ho  hawk,  tulin,  suadcnly,  n.shod  at  n.y  UttU,  nongst. , 
aud,   clutchiu,   bin.  through  the  vdaln    bor.    nm   ol 
exultation.     So  sudden  was  the  attack,  that  I  ''-.';       - 
to  cock  n»y  gun  beto.r  lie  was  half  a  dozen  rods  ott,  nnIiu.  I 
fll-^l,  and  light  lunv  to  the  g.onud:  tlu3  sparrow  ..H,^ 

course  dead.     The  hawk  was  only  wn.g-tipped;  and,  tlnow 
;:    ^^seir  on  Ids  back,  hi.  loot  extended   he  awaUe.^n^ 

aporoach.     As  1  drew  near  him,  ho  emitted  a  sort  ot  loss 
u  d  as  he  glared  at  me  with  rage-nkindlod  eye,  -.api-;- 

0  Very  i.rcarnation  of  wrath.  On  killing  him,  I  loiuid  hat 
ho  had  had  one  of  his  tarsi  broken  be  ore,  'M-l-'-^^  ^ 
shot :  it  had  healed,  but  had  lost  none  o  is  strengt  1,  m  as 
1  touched  him  with  a  stick,  he  grasped  it  with  both  leet  so 
poweriully  that  all  his  claws  were  thrust  ^^^^^i' ".'^';;^'^;^^";;; 
*  The  nest  is  rarely  found.  One  that  1  vsited  n,  A\  est  Uox- 
bury  Mass.,  on  the  20th  of  May,  IHW,  had  lour  eggs,  it 
wi:;niiltiii'atallpine.ree,inaibrknearthetop;^^^^ 

composed  of  coarse  sticks  and  tw.gs,  and  was  in  d  v  th 
the  bark  of  the  red  cedar  and  a  few  leaves  and  leatl  e,  s 
The  eoos,  which  arc  now  before  me,  vary  from  2  byl..U 
incheMo  2.15  by  1.72  inches  ;  their  cohn-  i.  - ^^^yy^;^;^ 
ish-white,  covered  more  or  less  Ih.ckly  m  the  ditleuiit 
specimens  with  spots  and  blotches  of  redd.sh-brown :  an- 
ler   egg,   obtained   in   Newton,   Mass      m   the  previous 

season,  is  somewhat  smaller,  and  the  markings  are  land, 
and  of  a  lighter  color.  Two  other  specimens  m  my  collec- 
tion, collected  in  New  Han.pshire,  correspond  to  this 
description;  but  the  spots  are  much  finer  and  ot  a  darker 
color. 

AUCIIIBUTEO,  BuKiiM. 

.rj  will!  S...J.    Wing.  ..>n,  a-ul  .id.,  to^  .hort ;  ^  jws  .nodorate;  ta.l  rather 
short,  wide.    Other  characters  very  similar  to  those  ot  liuleo. 


i^ 


THE   ROUGII-LE(i(JKI)    HAWK. 


48 


This  KPiuin  pnntnins  nix  or  novon  Ppocio!!,  Inhnhiting  Europe,  Alia,  and  North 
AiiRTiiii,  all  liiids  (if  hinvy  tli(iii(,'li  rol.uHt  iirKiiiiizalli.n,  HuhHJNtiin,'  riiuliily  on  amall 
qiiiKlniiHds  and  rc|itllrH.  Tliu  Bpucicit  of  thm  gtnuM  uru  easily  rueogmzcd  by  thulr 
having  thu  Inni  ruutliurud. 


AHCHIBOTEO  LAGOPUS.— f/; 
The  Eough-legged  Hawlt. 


ny. 


Fnko  lagopw,  Oni.     Sy.st.  Nut.,  200  (1788).     And.  Orn.  niog ,  11.  377,  and 

Fd/ni /ili(iii!j)(>,  Daiidin.     Traili!  d'Orn.,  I[.  10.1. 
/'((/(•i.y((/(j(,(/,M,  Cuvicr.     iiCK.  An.,  I.  ;J2.'t  (lhl7). 
Archibuku  aUkyii),  Itrclini.    Voj,'.  DeiitMcli,  I.  40. 

DKacniPTior*. 

Tnrs.is  densely  featlierod  in  front  to  tl.o  tous,  nuked  behind;  wing  lontf;  tail 
rather  short. 

vl(/i///.  — Head  nimvo  yellowish-white,  with  lonKitn.linal  stripes  of  brown  tinned 
with  reddish,  espeeiully  ..n  the  oeeiput;  Imek  s.apulur,  and  shorter  quills  pale  eine- 
reoiis,  widi  partially  e<meeale(l  transverse  hands  of  white  and  dark-brown,  the  latter 
fr.M,,irntly  predominating,  and  Kivin;;  the  eoh.r  on  the  buck ;  rump  dark  nniber-hrown ; 
hniKcr  (piills  and  wing  eoverts  innber-brown;  primaries  edged  externally  with  ashy, 
and  with  a  large  spaeu  on  their  inner  wel)s  at  their  base,  white  with  a  silky  histrei 
under  parts  white;  throat  with  longitndinal  stripes  (,f  dark-brown;  breast  with  large 
PIH.ts  and  eoneealed  stripes  of  reddish-brown ;  alxlonien  with  numerous  transverse 
narrow  bands  of  brownish-blaek,  most  conspieuons  on  tho  thinks,  and  tinged  with 
Hshy;  tibia'  und  tarsi  barred  transversely  with  whit.;  and  <lark-brown,  an<l  tinged 
with  reddish;  under  tail  eoverts  white;  upper  tail  coverts  while  at  base  und 
tipped  with  brownish-blaek;  tail  white  at  base,  with  a  wide  snbterminal  band  of 
blaek,  und  ubout  two  other  bands  of  blaek  alternating  with  others  of  light-eiuere- 
ons;  eero  unil  toes  yellow;  iris  hnzel;  under  wing  covert^  white,  with  spots  of 
brownish-blaek,  and  on  the  longer  eoverts  with  a  larg..  spaee  of  usliv-brown. 

I'oHH//.  — Upper  parts  light  nmber-browu,  nnniy  feathers,  espeeiallv  on  the  head 
and  neek  behind,  edged  with  yellowisb-white  and  pale-reddish;  a  wide  transverse 
band  or  bell  on  th.'  abdomen  brownish-blaek;  other  under  parts  vellowish-white, 
with  a  few  longitudinal  lines  and  spots  of  brownish-blaek;  quills  ashv-brown,  with 
a  large  basal  portion  of  their  inner  webs  white;  tail  at  its  base  white,  with  a  sub- 
terminal  band  of  light  umber-brown,  tip  white;  tibiie  and  tarsi  pale  redilish-yellow, 
with  longitudinal  stripes  and  spots  of  dark-brown;  eere  and  toes  yellow;  iris  Inuel! 

Total  hMiglh,  female,  twenty-one  to  twenty-tlireu  inehes;  wing",  sixteen  to  seven- 
teen inehes;  tail,  nine  inehes.  Male,  total  length,  nineteen  to  twentv-one  inches; 
wing,  tilteen  to  sixteen  inches;  tail,  eight  to  eight  and  a  half  inehes. 

Tliis  Hawk  is  rarely  seen  in  Now  Pjiglaml,  appearing  only 
in  tlic  late  fall  and  winter  nwiiths.  I  have  had  no  oi)portu- 
nities  of  studying  its  habits  and  characteristics,  and  will 
give  the  short  description  by  Audubon.     lie  says, 


44 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOGY. 


*i^ 


"  Tlie  Roiijili-lejrscd  ILiwk  seklom  goes  further  south  along  our 
Atlantic  Coast  than  the  eastern  portions  of  North  Carolina;  nor 
have  I  ever  seen  it  west  of  the  Alleghanies.  It  is  a  sluggish  bird, 
and  confines  itself  to  the  meadows  and  low  grounds  bordering  the 
rivers  and  salt  marshes  along  our  bays  and  inlets.  In  such  places, 
you  may  see  it  perched  on  a  stake,  where  it  remains  for  hours  at  a 
time,  unless  some  wounded  bird  comes  in  sight,  when  it  sails  after 
it,  and  secures  it  without  manifesting  much  swiftness  of  flight.  It 
feeds  principally  on  moles,  mice,  and  other  small  (piadrupeds,  and 
never  attacks  a  duck  on  the  wing,  although  now  and  ther.  it  pursues 
a  wounded  one.  W'.en  not  alarmed,  it  usually  flies  low  and 
sedately,  and  does  not  exhibit  any  of  the  courage  and  vigor  so  con- 
spicuous in  most  other  hawks,  suffering  thousands  of  birds  to  pass 
without  pursuing  them.  'I'he  greatest  feat  I  have  seen  it  perform 
was  scrambling  at  the  ge  of  the  water  to  secure  a  lethargic- 
frog. 

"  They  alight  on  trees  to  roost,  but  appear  so  hungry  or  indolent 
at  all  times,  that  they  seldom  retire  tc  rest  until  after  dusk. 
Their  large  eyes,  indeed,  seem  to  indi-  ite  their  possession  of  the 
faculty  of  seeing  at  that  late  liour.  I  have  frequently  put  up  one 
that  seemed  watching  for  food  at  the  edge  of  a  ditch,  long  after 
sunset.'  Whenever  an  opportunity  offer,  they  eat  to  excess, 
and,  like  the  Turkey  IJuzzards  and  Carrion  Crows,  disgorge 
their  food,  to  enable  themselves  to  fly  off.  The  species  is  more 
nocturnal  in  its  habits  than  any  other  hawk  found  in  the  United 
States." 

I  have  never  met  with  tlio  nest  of  this  bird,  aiul  know 
but  little  of  its  breeding  habits.  T.  docs  not  Ijreed  in  New 
Enghand,  or,  if  it  does,  only  very  rarely,  preferring  the  more 
northern  sections  of  the  continent.  Two  eggs  in  my  collec- 
tion, from  Canada,  are  of  the  following  description.  Their 
ground-color  is  a  dirty  bluish-wliite,  which  is  covered  more 
or  less  tliickly  on  dilferent  parts  of  tlieir  surface  witli 
obscure  spots  and  blotclies  of  dilferent  shades  of  lirown- 
ish-ochre  and  faint-umlier.  They  are  broadly  ovate  in 
form,  and  are  2.87  by  1.75  inch  and  2.87  by  1.03  inch  in 
dimensions. 


THE  BLACK   HAWK.  45 

AECHIBUTEO   SANCTI- JOHANNIS. -Cra^. 
The  Black  Hawk. 
F',<lco  sanctl-Johanms,  Gm.    Syst.  Xat,  273  (1788) 
;,"  ™  "'."•'^-'^'■'"■-  C'n-     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  274  (1788). 
J'lilcu  mycr,  WiLsoii.    Am.  Oni.,  VI.  82  (1812). 

DESCIilPTIOJf. 

one  transverse  ^;Hl-d<ib^^i,^"""'^  '"^"V"  '"■"■^"^'  "'"'«'  *""  -'"' 
-i.h  „.e  .a,„o  col..  ;  ^  ^^;'  "i,  "^;;"''  '7«"  "'^  '-•■<-'  towanis  the  base 
core  and  toes  veil,,;;    r     In.  '"  ?''!.  ^^'  ""-'  '"'"''y  ■^««"  from  below; 

Other  spe..in.ens  arj^^lt  i,- ^l     .Z  "'l'^  '"'*'"■'"'  "'  '-nt,  naked  behind. 
iiiuiti\   (laiiv  eliocolato- brown    w  fh  Hm   i,„    1 

str„..d  with   yellowish-white    and    reddish-vellZ   '  .^  mJJ^  ^"I^  '''  '•^- 

bands  ot  white,  more,  or  less  in.perfeet  and'irre.adar  "'"'""'•■'''''^ 

With  ::i!:;;;S'':::r:;;;;s;:.;;;;;;;:r':r:"'  ^^'-^ !':« «-•-«  --  -^  >-  cd^ed 

b.-ownish-blaek;  otl  e  1  !  .  r,;..lf  f  n""-  7  \"  '"'"""  *""^^  ^"-^  """"  "^ 
of  brownish-blaek,  treo  ,  lv  "  ill  /  " '"T'  ^""^''^  "'"'  lo-.^n'tudinal  stripes 
^i".-  win.s  and  'tail  C!  t^^^  f  J  .S:  Z^ll^^  "'""^  ""  f  "-^  ""'l 
on  their  inner  webs,  the  latter  white    ,t  '  "■  """•'^^■'l  "!">  ^vhite 

....... .p«  „,.,;  .™,;;':;:!t  'Jin^^:; ::  :■;  *:,r  "'•«•"- 

■"'- .' .;Sr,.sr:::?i:;':;:r" '■'"*""' '-'"^■■-'»-^^ 

This  specias  so  ofton  conloun.k.l  i„  tl,c  innnaturc  „1„ 

ft-rin',",:""  "r'">'' '"" ""'""  -^ "«'"-' 

o.u    t  hy  ,ts  g,-cator  s,zo  a„.l  more  nu„,o,-„us  da,k  »„„,« 
.coat:,.  ,«  a  ,.aro  wiutcr  visit,,,.  i„  Na,v  England.       Ho 

svva.upj,   „.o„,s  to  tl,„  l,isl,o,.  lociitios,  an,l    proys    nZl 
m.cc,  wounded  ducks,  and  sn.all  l.it-ds,     I  l.avo  kn,  „n      i 
-"«  kd  od   wlnlo   pursuing  a  Hock   of  Snow  n:  t    , 
O  «*■„,*,„„  ,„al„),  and  have  heard  of  its  .attacldn/a 
«ock  01  domestic  poultry.     Its  hahits,  therefore,  are  difte' 

hut  .t  l,,ck«    i,o  cour,agc  and  vigor  of  most  of  our  other 
.apacous  hu^ds,  and  is  hardly  worthy  of  the  in.uortaC 
has  rece.vod  frotu  the  pens  of  so„,e  of  our  writer. 

The  d,stril>ntiou  of  this  s|,ecics  is  linnted  to  the  north 
m-..  regtons  of  the  continent  in  su,„n,er,  and  is  ve.y  Tely 


'  ■•^''"^'jyptf'tl*il^?ttfi^l|p?^i•'"^^'■"1^i1v^'^'■"  .  ■ ...^. 


\m 


46 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


found  soiitli  of  Massacluisctts  in  winter.  I  do  not  remem- 
ber of  an  instance  of  its  being  captured  far  inland,  although 
J.  A.  Allen,  before  quoted,  includes  it  in  the  catalogue  of 
the  birds  of  Springfield,  Mass. 

A  single  egg  in  my  collection,  from  Northern  America,  is 
of  the  following  dimensions :  2.17  by  1.70  inch.  Its  form 
is  a  perfect  ovoidal.  Its  primary  color  is  a  dirty  white ; 
and  it  is  marked  with  obscure  blotches  of  lilac,  and  some 
obscure  blotches  of  brown  and  brownish-yellow.  None  of 
the  markings  are  decided  ;  and,  at  a  little  distance,  the  egg 
has  the  appearance  of  being  of  a  dirty-white  color. 


Sub-Fa  mill/  Milvin.e.  — 77^e  Kilcs. 

Size  various,  usuallv  iiKdiiiin  or  small:  froncral  form  usually  rather  slcmler,  and 
not  stron-;  win-s  and  tail  usually  loni;;  bill  short,  weak,  hooked,  amlacute;  tarsi 
and  toes  usually  slender,  and  not  stron;;,  sometimes  short  The  birds  of  this  group 
habitually  feed  on  reptiles  and  other  small  animals,  and  arc  detieient  in  the  strength 
and  courage  of  the  other  groujis  of  the  falcons. 

CIRCUS,  Lackpede. 

Circm,  Lackpkdk,  Mem.  d'Inst.  Paris.  III.  CXI.  500  (180.3). 

Face  partiallv  encircled  by  a  ring  or  rutf  of  short  projecting  feathers,  as  in  the 
owls;  head  rather  large;  bill  short,  compres.sed,  curved  from  the  base;  nostrils 
large;  wings  long,  pointed;  tail  rather  long,  wide;  tarsi  long  and  slender;  toes 
moderate;  claws  rather  slender  and  weak. 


t- 


CIRCUS  HUDSONIUS.- T7./«o(. 
The  Marsh-hawk;  Harrier;  Mouse-hawk. 


Folcn  niidsniiius,  Linna'us.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  128  (1766). 
Falco  iilii/iiKiKiig,  (im.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  278  (1788). 
Fiikoul!!/iii(isiif,\\",him.     Am.  Orn.,  VI.  G7. 
Fulco  cyantus,  Aububou.     Orn.  Uiog.,  IV'.  :i'.)C. 

DKSOIIU'TIDN. 

A'Mt.—  Yorm  r.ither  long  and  slender;  tarsi  long;  rufT  quite  distinct  on  the 
neck  in  front:  entire  upper  parts,  head,  and  breast,  pale  bluish-cinereous,  on 
the  back  of  the  head  mixed  with  dark-fulvous;  upper  tail  covert.s  white;  under 
pans  white,  with  small  cordate  or  hastate  spots  of  light-ferruginous ;  (piills  brownish- 
black,  with  their  outer  webs  tinged  with  ashy,  and  a  large  portion  of  their  inner 


THE   MAIISII-HAWK  ;    HARRIER;    MOUSE-HAWK.  47 

i,.,».;._I,„„,e   „,,p,,r   p,,,t,    ,,,„.,^   umber-brown;    upper    tail   coverts   wbitn- 
..;   -paws  r,„;,us,  with  l,.n,i,uainal  stripes  of  bro;„  Z  thet       ^^j^        ! 

;i;:r ;;':-.:;;-;:"-;;:::;;:  """^  -^  ^-^----  -- «-  •-  '■"^ 

Jotal  length,  female,  nineteen  to  twenty-one  inches;  wing,  fifteen  and  ,  le.lf. 

litiiS;  .i':'.;:;rt;r -r '-  ^'«"-"  -- --  --^- 

This  species  is  pretty  generally  diffused  throughout  New 
JM.gland  as  a  summer  visitor.  It  is  one  of  thc^ least  mis- 
chievous of  all  the  hawks,  as  it  destroys  Imt  lew  of  the 
smaller  birds.  It  is  more  common  in  districts  that  arc  low 
and  marshy  than  in  others ;  and  this  flict  gives  it  the  name, 
111  many  localities,  of  the  "  IJogtrotter." 

Its  flight  is  low  and  rapid,  consisting  of  Iqng  intervals 
<>1   ilaj.pu.gs,  with  shorter  periods  of  soaring.    '  I  do  not 
remember  of  ever  hearing  it  cry  out  in  the  manner  that 
other  hawks  do,  and  think  that  it  hunts  silently.    It  arrives 
Irom  the  South  from  about  the  mi.ldle  of  April  to  the  first 
<)t  May.    I  am  inclined  to  think  that  tlie  bir.ls  are  generally 
mated  before  their  arrival ;  for  they  are  almost  always  seen 
m  pairs  from  their  first  appearance.    In  choosing  a  situation 
lor  a  nest,  both  birds  are  remarkably  nervous  and  restless- 
tl.oy  are  almost  constantly  on  the  wing,  prying  into,  and 
apparently  taking  into  account,  every  thing  with  reference  to 
future  comfort.     The  following  circumstances  came  to  my 
observation,  and,  as  I  improved  every  opportunity  to  watch 
the  proceedings,  will  serve  to  illustrate  the  breeding  habits 

.  1,"  ^Tl ''   .!"    ''''"■   '"''''"   ^^'"'^"   "PP^'"-^^"«<^   iil'out   the 
middle  of  April,  a  few  years  since,  in  a  large  meadow  in 

Dedhain,  Mass.     They  were  apparently  mated   from    the 

hi'st ;  and,  as  the  neighborhood  gave  promise  of  an  abnn- 


!  f 


48 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I 


danco  of  food  (fiold-mico),  T  concluded  that  this  would  1io 
selected   as   a  breeding- place,   and   watched    accor<lingly. 
The  male  was  very  attentive  to  his  mate,  often  talking  to 
and  caressing  her.     If  she  should  alight  on  the  ground  or 
on  a  fence-rail,  he  would  aliglit  with  her,  and  often  fly  and 
walk  around   her,  bowing  and  chattering  in  a  ludicrous 
manner.     After  a  situation  (luckily  where  I  could  watch 
them  unobserved)   was  fixed  upon  for  a  nest,  boi'i  birds 
were  very  active  in  its  construction.     It  was  built  on  a 
hummock,  jjerhajjs  eighteen  inches  above  the  level  of  the 
meadow.      The   materials   used   in    its   construction   -svero 
dried  grasses,  which  were  woven  together  rather  neatly.    It 
was  considerably  hollowed,  —  jjcrhaps  an  inch  and  a  half, — 
and  lined  with  very  soft  grass.     The  external  diameter  of 
the   nest  was  about  eighteen  inches ;    internal   diameter, 
about  eight  inches.      The  female  laid  four  eggs  of  a  dirty- 
white  color,  with  a  faint  tinge  of  blue.     In  one  specimen 
there  were  a  few  faint  spots  of  brown  ;    but  I  think  that 
generally  tKe  eggs  of  this  species  are  without  spots.^     I 
have  seen  a  great  many,  and  but  a  very  few  had  si)ots,  and 
these  not  at  all  distinct.      A  great  number  of  specimens 
exhibit  a  variation  of  from  1.02  to  1.90  inch  in  length,  and 
from  1.:j2  to  1.25  inch  in  breadth.     The  habits  of  this  bird 
entitle  it  to  the  protection  of  the  farmer.    It  subf-ists  almost 
entirely  upon  the  injurious  field-mice,  and  the  numbers  of 
tliese  aniniiils  which  it  destroys  in  the  breeding  season  are 
incrodilde  .  from  early  dawn  to  dim  twilight  it  may  be  seen 
busily  searching  for  these  pests,  seldom  molesting  the  small 
beneficial  birds  or  poultry. 

1  Dr.  IJrcwpr,  in  describing  the  eggs  of  this  species,  ,«ays:  "  With  hut  a  sinjjle 
pxcciitioii,  all  these  efrirs  (six)  arc  very  distinetly  blotched  and  sjiotted.  Tlieir 
groiiiid-etjlcir  is  a  dirty  bliiisli-white,  which  in  nne  is  nearly  iinsiiutted;  the  niarkin^^'s 
so  taint  as  to  be  hardly  iieneptllile,  and  only  upon  close  insjiection.  In  all  the 
others,  spots  and  blotches  ot  a  light  shade  of  purpli>h-liro\vii  occur,  in  a  greater  or 
loss  degree,  over  their  entire  surface.  In  two,  the  blotches  are  large  and  well 
niarki'd:  in  the  others,  less  strongly  traced,  but  (piite  distinct.  This  has  led  to  a 
closer  examination  of  eggs  from  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  nearly  all  are  per- 
ceptibly spotted." 


1 


THE  GOLDEN  EAGLE;  THE  RING-TAILED  EAGLE. 


49 


Suh-Famibj  Aqvu.mm.  —  The  Hagles. 

t..rsi  .noderate,  verv  str  n,!    Waw  X  7'' '"","'  '"'  """"'''•  «"'^'^^">'  '«""'•«'  = 
-venty  specie,  of  Ragles  of  a       L  tri  ^         '  '^""^  ""'  ^'^''"^'-    '^^'"^'^  ^  ''»-' 


AQUILA,  MoEHiiiNo. 

^^pnh,  Mov.uniya,  Av.  Gen.,  49  (1752) 

tarsi  rathor  short,  v.rv  stnm.     tVuth  .n      t  '''  "■'"«'  '""f^'- P"i'"U..l ; 

^""  -"- '"'""'"  - ™--;;:, ::;:  :-l:^z  tz  r^:;r- 

AQUILA   CANADENSIS. -( ,„,/„. 
The  Golden  Eagle ;  tha  Einj-tailed  Eagle. 
f^deo  Canadensis,  Limuvn,.     Svst\u    Ii>-m-,v< 

/wt.rV'f"    ^""«-I^«-s.As.,L338(l81l) 
^"'<-''^'">-"'K  Wilson.     Aud.,n.  464. 

AIU~T  I^K«<'l!II'TI().\. 

brow::;,;-,d.:;r;::s;rt:r;:;':n;i":r"^^'  '^'"'  "-'^  --^ '-"-'  >i^>.t 

fivous.  «,.„,.raliy  daikor;   tail  tt  ,,!  "J  '     TT'"''  '■"""""'"^'  "«"'  "'•"•"^- 

greaf.r  part  of  the  tail;  otl,,.,.  terminal  I    ,■'       !  froqucntly  occupies  the 

..-w„ish-„ivous,  Kcneral,;^.!;!;;  \w " ;  ;:':;r"'""""'"'"""  '""^  '•""  '"■■^' 

rc.l.lish-l.azel.  ".irk-asliy;    cere   and   toes  yellow:   iris 

...0  '";?;:::;i;'2:r3;:^^      ^r  """-""^--  "■"'-  ^'-  ^^ 

,  ^'otal  ie„„„,  te.„ale,  .l.ir.vJL;  "J  ,"::;::  ^  "'"V"^  ''^  """■^• 

about  mieeu  inches.     Male,  t  ,tal  le„„,|      1  ir  V,     .""■       ""  '^'^^'y-^^^'  *«!!, 

'"  >"enty-,hree:   tail,  twehe  to  (.mH^^tV    ""•'^-"^'^ '"^■"-'-  -"■g- twenty 

1'- white  in  proportion  to  their  a.    -      !  '     ''■",''•  •■'■:'', "'"  >•""■•^^  '"'ve  more  or 


"Inte  in  proportion  to  their  aKe.-,h,,  ;,,„„, 

I    (IF     IMP     nni^iA  '  '' 


hand  at  the  haso 


;vst  !,, 


Iiavinjj;  the  widest  white 


gland,  that  I 


Tliis  bird  is  so  extremely  rare  in  New  England  tint  T 
have  had  no  opportunities  for  stvulyin.  its  Imb'ts      iT 
occasionally  found  here  in  diirerent^e^l  of  [^  ^^^ 


!  i 


50 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOGY. 


Ir 


^ 


and  it  uncloubtedly  breeds  in  the  wildest  districts  of  these 
States.  The  following  are  the  most  interestnig  facts,  given 
by  Audubon,  in  relation  to  this  species :  — 

.'The  Golden   Eagle,  although  a  permanent   resident  in   the 
United  States,  i«  of  rare  occurrence  there;  .t  ^-"'g  ,*  ^'^ 
one  sees  more  than  a  pair  or  two  in  the  course  of  a  yeai,  unlc  s  he 
h^rinhabltant  of  the  mountains,  or  of  the  large  plams  spread  ou 
at  their  base.     I  have  seen  a  few  of  them  on  the  -".-      S 
shores  of  the  Hudson,  others  on  the  upper  parts  of  t-  M'ss.s  p^, 
some  among  the  Alleghanles,  and  a  pan-  m  the  State  of  Ma  ne^ 
At  Labrador,  we  saw  an  individual  sailit,g,  at  the  he.ght  of  a  few 
yards  over  the  moss-covered  surface  of  the  dreary  rocks. 
'     ^Although  powerful  in  flight,  it  has  not  the  speed  of  many 
hawks    nor  evn  of  the  White-headed  Eagle.     It  ca.u.o:,  bke    he 
Htt  pursue  and  seize,  on  the  wing,  the  prey  it  longs  for ;  but  .s 
t  d  to  glide  down  th...gh  the  air  for  a  cert.un  hetght  to  tnsure 
th  'success  of  its  enterprise.     The  keenness  of  tts  eye,  however, 
!k  s  up  for  this  defect,  and  enables  it  to  spy,  at  a  great  d.stance 
he  obie  ts  on  which  it  preys;  and  it  seldom  m.sses  tts  aun    as  it 
fils  with  the  swiftness  of  a  meteor  towards  the  spot  on  wluch  they 
.concealed.     When  at  a  great  height  in  the  air,  tts  gyrattons  are 
ncommonly  beautiful,  being  slow  and  of  wide  ctrcu.t,  at.d  becom- 
•  "the  m^sty  of  the  king  of  birds.     It  often  contumes  them  for 
ho'urs  at  a  time,  with  apparently  the  greatest  ease. 

"The  notes  of  this  species  are  sharp  and  harsh;  resemblmg,  at 

tin,es,  the  barking  of  a  dog;  especially  about  the  breecbng  season, 

Xn  the  birds  become  extremely  noisy  and  turbulent,  iiung  tnore 

wifdy  than  at  other  times,  alighting  more  fre.p.ently,  -ul  evn.n.g 

a  fretfun.ess  which  is  not  so  observable  after  the.r  eggs  are  laul. 

"  They  are  ca,>able  of  remaining  without  food  for  several  dajs  at 
a  time,  and  eat  voraciously  whenever  they  find  an  opportunUy. 

;  Y^ung  fawns,  raccoons,  hares,  wild  turkeys  and  other  large 
Inrds  are  their  usual  food;  and  they  devour  putn.l  flesh  only  when 
;;,,a' pressed  by  hunger,  none  alighting  on  carrion  at  any  other 

time.  , 

I  rcoret  that  I  am  unable  to  add  any  tlnng  to  onr  knowl- 
edge o°f  its  habits  and  breeding  peculiarities.     Dr.  Brrw.r 


THE  WHITE-HEADED   EAGLE,  ETC.  61 

nT 'rr  "  ''1':"'^"  "'  "'°  -'"""toino.w  portions  of  Maine 
New  Ha.D,.l,„.e,  Ver.nont,  and  New  York."  Tl,c  Go  .' 
Lagle  usually  conmructs  its  nost  on  tl,e  sides  ot's teen  ™  kv 
crags,  where  its  materials  are  eoarsoly  l,ea„ed  tt  ,  '„ 
a  projoetn,,.  si.elf  of  rock.  Tl.ese  eonsist  of  lar^e  sfek" 
oosely  arran.-ed.      In   rare  i„.sia„ces,  they  are  sa  U   t„ 

X  ,7  """  °"  '""'  '"  '"»  ^V'-tern'st, ts,  ,le 
rooky  ehlTs  are  not  to  he  met  with.  Tlie  eggs  are  „  llL 
l.ree  n,  nun.her;  son.etin.es  two,  or  only  o^e.  MrTd  , 
...  doser,bes  them  as  measuring  throe  and  a  hall  in'e  s  " 
l«..gth  l.y  two  and  a  half  in  breadth ;  the  shell  t  ck  a, 
-.ooth,  dnl  -white,  hrnshed  over  witl,  nude  d  pate  ' 
of  brown,  wlneh  are  nrost  nnu.erous  at  the  larger  end 


ITALL'ETUS,  Savigxv. 

claws  very  strouK,  curve.!,  verv,.harn:  l,i||  larL'    ,J  '''"  *"''  '""""-''•  '""«' 

or  upper  „.anc.iU.e  .,i„a,,  ,.,;.,;  wi„«s  ,o„g,  poh;;S,  tn'Lair""  "'""'" 

HALIiETUS   LEUCOCEPHALUS. 
The  White-headed  Eagle ;  the  Bald  i.agle ;  the  Gray  Eagle 

ialco  us.Jr„yns,  Wilst.„.    A,„.  Orn,  ML  16  (I813). 

OkbCKII'TIOX. 

"r  iri,,  y,:ll„„-.  '  "*"  "'  ""■■ '""""  l»l"1  Ml,  (i,,,  ,„,,  (,,,,„ 

.....;;::w;;;:,^;!;i;:-;r'::;'s::r:r'i;' ''"'-'"'"•- « 

more  or  irss  .....ttletl  «iih  wlm.    whiw,  '  '^'"•'•'""■^'  <"'  »''«  '"hI""  part..;   tail 

>"r.e  portion  of  the  tail,  l^^y^  tC  "'""  "'^•'""^^''  ''^''-  -'-"'<  --a 

Total   lel.fer,!,,  ,i,,„,,|       ,^^         fliirtv-fivo  to  Cnr...   •      1 
t«-enty-five  inches;  tail,  ,.„,,.„.  ,.,  ,ii^.  !  'i,     ,  f^,  ";"-;  ;-'^-  t-tythree  to 
wn,.,  twenty  ,0  twen.y-t.o  inches;  tail,  t,:';:;  ^:!;:^Z::::''-''^^  -'- 


i'( 


I  '»: 


.-.mmnt^tiAiimsm&^iikfi.' 


(PR»*5^iifw 


»^ 


I 


52  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 

This  bcaiitiful  ami  woll-kiiowii  biril  is  occasionally  scon  in 
different  parts  of  New  England  througliont  tlic  year,  most 
commonly  near  the  seaeoast  or  in  the  neighl)orhood  of  largo 


tracts  of  water.  I  have  had  several  opportunities  of  ohscrv- 
ingand  studying  its  habits,  l)Ut  have  discovered  nothing  that 
ha^s  not  been  already  i>  osented  to  the  public.     Its  flight  is 


III 


TriK   ttlMTK-UEADED   EAGLE. 


68 


rapid  and  graceful,  „„,1  ■„  „ft„„  pr„,„^^    j  f„  , 
apparent  oa.s„.     ]t  food«  „„„„  „.!ld.f„„d,  wild  1    „   ad 

ZolT    ^      ""•""-""')'  -1  «"J»  cast  „„„,.  the 
sayjf""'  '"  ''"'"■"''"=  "»  »"'"^''»  <">   "«=  Fish  Hawk, 

rrr  t^'^i  r"'-  "-"''-i^'-^"'  --  "■«  :;r:s 

soJves;    niiawed   by  any  tliino-  but  nv..,  •   n,.  i    t-  , 

wi.i,.s  ,„  „,,„,,  „L„;.  i„<*=  „^'!,::;,;  It:. ':,:;:  •:;' 

l-e  „ee„  „,e„t,o„oa  abeve,  f,™  .„e  ,  J.  „„,,i,„i,^  „f  J;;,^  „» 

ticular  occasions,  but.  when  nnf  fnwi.  •  ' 

Klevate,!  on  the  In-r.  ^    ,"  ^^f'^^-^Po^-ru^.^i,,,^,,,,-^^^^ 
ni^ii  (i(,i(i  limb  ot  some  "■nrjint  c  fiv-o  fi>.,t 

^-"0.  at  the  .,„...,  ...,„.ei,„ „:„.,,  :l;"l;:.::;:„„?:,.:^,: 


ill 


rA 


OllNITlIOLOCY    AND   OOLOGY. 


on  the  branch,  h.)  watches  the  result.     Down,  nii)id  as  an  arrow 
from  lieav'.n,  .lescendH  the  distant  object  of  his  attention ;  the  roar 
of  its  wings  reaching  the  ear  ns  it  .liHappoars  in  the  deep,  making 
the  surges  foam  around.     A.   this  irouic.t,  the  eager  kn.ks  ot  the 
Ea.do   are   all   ar.h.r ;  and,   levelling  his  neck  for  flight,   he  sees 
thf"  Kish-hawk  once  more  emerge,  struggling  with  his  prey,  and 
mounting  in  the  air  with  screams  of  exultation.     These  are  the 
si.M.al  for  our  hero,  who.  launching  into  the  air,  instantly  gives 
chase,  and  soon  gains  on  the  Fish-hawk:  each  -x.  rt^,  I.    ..tmost  to 
mount  above  the  other,  displaying  in  these  rencontres   the  most 
,.lo.^ant  and  sublime  aerial  evolutions.     The  unencumbered  Eagle 
rapkUv  advances,  and  is  just  on  the  point  of  re;iching  his  opponent, 
when,'  with    a   sudden   scream,    probably  of   despair   an.l   honest 
execration,  the  latter  drops  his  fish  :  the  Eagle,  poising  lumselt  for 
a  moment,  as  if  to  take  a  more  certain  aim,  descends  like  a  whirl- 
wind,  snatches  it  in  his  grasp  ere  it  reaches  the  water,  and  bears 
his  iU-gotteu  booty  silently  away  to  the  woods. 

"These  predatory  attacks  and  def.Misive  mancnuvres  of  tlie 
Fa<de  and  the  Fish-hawk  are  matters  of  daily  observation  along 
the" whole  of  our  seaboard,  from  Georgia  to  New  England,  and 
fretmently  excite  great  interest  in  the  spectators.  Sympathy, 
however,  on  this  as  on  most  other  occasions,  generally  si.les  with 
the  honest  and  laborious  sufterer,  in  opposition  to  the  attacks 
of  power,  injustice,  and  rapacity  ;  ciualities  for  which  our  hero  is 
so  .renerally  notorious,  and  which,  in  his  superior,  man,  are  cer- 
taiidy  detestable.  As  for  the  feelings  of  the  poor  fish,  they  seem 
altofrether  out  of  the  question. 

"When  driven,  as  he  sometimes  is,  by  the  combined  courage 
and  perseverance  of  the  fish-hawks,  from  their  neighborhood,  and 
forced  to  hunt  for  himself,  he  retires  more  inland,  in  search  of 
youn<r  pigs,  of  which  he  destroys  great  numbers.  In  the  lower 
parts  of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  where  the  inhabitants  raise 
vast  herds  of  those  animals,  complaints  of  this  kind  are  very 
general  against  him.  He  also  destroys  young  lambs  in  the  early 
part  of  spring;  and  will  sometimes  attack  old  sickly  sheep,  aiming 
furiously  at  their  eyes." 

It  generally  chooses  for  a  breeding-place  a  retired  spot 
in  the  neighborhood  of  a  tract  of  water.     The   nest  is 


lAi 


TFIE  FISH-IIAWK. 


56 


usiiuUy  ,,laecd  In  the  fork  of  a  largo  dead  troo,  and  is 
occupuHl  hy  the  same  pair  „f  birds  for  succcssivo  years.     I 
am  informed,  that  a  pair  of  these  hirdn  have,  for  a  nun.her 
o    years  past,  made  their  eyrie  on  a  shrlf  of  an  inaecessiblo 
cliff  on  the  side  of  what  is  called  "Diamond  Mountain,"  a 
few  nulcs  south  of  the  Umbagog  laices.     Mr.  J.  A.  Allen 
(tatalu^ue  of  Birds  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  in  "Proceedings 
0    Jvssex  Institute,"  vol.  IV.,  No.  .')  says  that  this  species 
sometimes  l,roeds  on  Mount  Tom,  about   twenty   miles 
i^orth   of    Springfi  '  1,  Mass."     These   are   probably,  how- 
ever, exceptional  cases.     The  nest  is  constructed  of  liu-e 
8  .cl<s,  twigs,  branches  of  seaweeds,  turf,  and  moss :  soine 
of  tiieso  sticks  are  nearly  or  quite  an  inch  in  thickness.     It 
IS  a  bulky  afliur ;  its  diameter  often  being  five  fl-et,  and  its 
thickness  from  two  to  three  feet.     It  is  not  much  hollowed, 
and  IS  nearly  level  across  the  top.     Of  numbers  of  c-rs  of 
tins  bird,  that  I  have  examined,  I  could  see  no  imperial 
diirerence   as   to   shape  or  color;   the  form   being  nearly 
spherical,  and  the  color  a  dirty  yellowish-white.     Length 
of    specimens  varies   from  2.08  to  3.07  ii.ches;    breadth, 
from  2.31  to  2.47  inches. 


PANDIOX,  Saviony. 

Pimlion,  Saviony,  Hist.  Nat.  d'Efrypt,  I.  95  ( 1809). 

Wins,  very  lonR;  Roncral  fi.rm  heavy,  and  not  adapted  to  vigorous  or  swift 
fl,Kht  hke  the  precedjn,  ea.ie.;  hill  short,  cun-ed  .Von.  the  ,,ase,  eofnpr  e  i  Z^ 
tnck  and  strong,  and  ...vered  with  sn.ali  circular  scales;  cluws  arge  curved  v  n' 
sharp;  toes  beneath  rough ;  tail  moderate  or  rather  short  ^ 

This  genu.,  contains  three  or  four  species  only,  nearly  allied  to  each  oU.er  and 
inhabiting  all  temperate  regions  of  the  world.  ' 

PANDI    .  CAROLIUEMIS.- Bonaparte. 
The  Fish-hawk.    Osprey. 

Falco  Carnltnemh,  Gm.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  263  (1788). 
A>juila  pUcalrlx,  Vieillot.    "ois.  d'Am.  Sept.,  I.  29(1807) 
Pan^llon  Anuricnnus,  VieilL.t.    Gal.  Ois.,  I.  3,3  ( 1825). 
Falco  halio'lus,  Linnanis.    Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  V.  14. 
Falco  halUztus,  Linna;us.    Aud  Orn.  Biog.,  I.  415.  ' 


:  I 


■:\n 


m 


66 


OUNlTHOLOdY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Dkhchii'tkin. 

Wiii^a  lmi({;  li'^s,  tocH,  uiiil  iliiws  very  rnlnmt  uud  Mronn. 

A'luU.  —  llaiul  niul  fiitiro  uiuUt  pnrtH  wliifu;  utriiw  tlirounh  tlio  cyn,  top  of  the 
lipiid,  iiml  upi«r  parlH  dl'  tin-  lioily,  wiii(,'«  nnd  tail  drrp  umliiT-browii,  tiiil  having 
IllHiut  vitiUt  liiiiidH  (if  l.liiikif<li-lirowii;  l)rcii>'t  with  iiiiiiii'nMis  ((irdiil.i  iind  ririiiliir 
H|mtH  of  pitl.'  yollowi»li-l>rc.wii;  liill  uiid  tluw«  bluish-blucki  tui'ni  and  tocK  jjrceu- 
inli-ycllow;  irirt  ri'ddisli-vt'llow. 

I'ounf/.  —  Similar  to  the  ndiilt,  but  with  the  upper  plutnnKo  cdK^d  and  tipped 
witii  palu-brownisii,  nearly  wliitis  spots  on  the  liri'aHt  iiiori'  niiiiu'roiis  an<l  daritur 
colored. 

Total  l.iiKth,  f.'iiiale,  aboiit  twciity-tivo  iiuhes;  wiiij.^,  twenty-ouu  inches;  tail, 
ten  and  a  half  iiichus.    Male,  rather  smaller. 

"  S(i(  11  as  the  sun,  K^'ftt  rulor  of  the  year, 
Ik'iuls  to  our  northern  climes  his  briKht  career, 
And  from  the  caves  of  Ocean  calls  from  sleep 
The  finny  shoals  and  myriads  of  the  deep  ; 
AVhen  l'reezin>;  teinjjests  back  to  Greenland  ride, 
And  day  and  ni},'ht  the  equal  hours  divide, — 
True  to  the  season,  o'er  our  sea-beat  shore. 
The  sailini;  <)si)rey  hi^h  is  seen  to  soar 
With  broad,  uniiioving  winj? ;  and,  circling  slow, 
Marks  each  loose  straggler  in  the  deep  below, 
Sweeps  down  like  lightning,  plunges  with  a  roar. 
And  bears  his  struggling  victim  to  the  shore. 


The  long-housed  fisherman  beholds  with  joy 
The  well-known  signals  of  his  rough  employ  ; 
And,  as  he  bears  his  nets  and  oars  along. 
Thus  hails  the  welcome  season  with  a  song  :  — 

THE  FISIIEHMAN'S  HYMN. 

The  Osprey  sails  above  the  sound  ; 

The  geese  are  gone,  the  gulls  are  flying; 
The  herring-shoals  swarm  thick  around  ; 
The  nets  are  launched,  the  boats  are  [ilying. 
Yo,  ho,  my  hearts  !  let's  seek  the  deep, 

Haise  high  the  song,  and  cheerly  wish  her, 
Still,  as  the  bending  net  we  sweep, 
'  God  bless  the  Fish-hawk  and  the  fisher  ! ' 


She  brings  us  flsli :  she  brings  us  spring. 

Good  times,  fair  weather,  warmth,  and  plenty; 

Fihe  store  of  shad,  trout,  herring,  ling. 
Sheep's-head  and  drum,  and  old-wiveg  dainty. 


ifti' 


57 


THE    FISH-HAWK. 

Yo,  ho,  my  liourts!  lot's  «et>k  the  (loop 
I'ly  ovory  ,mr,  aiul  choorly  ^vihI,  |„.r' 

Ktill  n»  the  iK.n.lin^;  net  wo  Hwoop 
'  Uoa  blesH  tl...  FiBh.lmwk  an.I  the  flnher  I ' 

She  rears  lior  youtiff  on  yonder  tree  • 

She  loaves  hor  fl.ithful  nmte  to  rnin.l  'em  • 
Liko  us,  f.,r  fish,  Hho  sails  to  sea, 
An.I,  vUmnlun,  hI,„wh  us  whor'o  to  fln.l  'cm 
^'•.l.o,n.yl,oarts!  lot's  sook  the  .loop,    " 

\y  every  oar,  an.I  ohoerly  wish  hor, 
Wlnle  the  slow-hon.linK  not  we  swoop 
'  O.Kl  bless  the  Fish-huwk  and  the  fisher  I '  " 

AlvEXANUEn    WiLSOJT. 

Hood  ,;;■ !'::;:;.  ::.""",:;"""'•  ",'■"  '•'■ "'"  -■« '- 

week  hiiov      T  I    i:        .1    x   V      '  ^''^  IfHuilos  ahoiit  a 

o.i,e,.,;.,ic„„,,.  Tl,,'  1  ,;:„:",*■";""  ,r-^  «■■""  "■«  of  n- 


ORNITHOLOr.Y   AND   OOLOGY. 


if       : 

n:  1 

111 


seen  sailing  together  towards  the  shores,  to  collect  the  drifted 
seaweeds,  with  which  they  line  the  nest  anew.  They  alight  on  the 
beach,  search  for  the  dryest  and  largest  weeds,  collect  a  mass  ot 
them,  clench  them  in  their  talons,  and  fly  towards  their  nest,  with 
the  materials  dangling  beneath.  They  both  alight  and  labor 
tocrether.  In  a  fortnight,  the  nest  is  complete,  and  the  female 
deposits  her  eggs." 

The  nest  is  generally  placed  in  a  large  tree  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity  of  the  water,  either  along  the  seashore,  on  the 
maroins  of  the  inland  lakes,  or  by  some  large  river.     It  is, 
however,  sometimes  to  be  seen  in  the  interior  of  a  wood,  a 
mile  or  more  from  the  water.     I  have  concluded,  that,  in 
the  latter  case,  it  was  on  account  of  frequent  disturbance, 
or  attempts  at  destruction,  that  the  birds  had  removed  from 
their  usual  haunts.    The  nest  is  very  large,  sometimes  meas- 
uring fully  four  fcet  across,  and  is  composed  of  a  quantity 
of  inaterials  sufficient  to  render  its  depth  equal  to  its  diam- 
eter.    Large  sticks,  mixed  with  seaweeds,  tufts  of  strong 
grass,  and  other  materials,  form  its  exterior,  while  the  in- 
terior is  composed  of  seaweeds  and  finer  grasses.     I  have 
not  observed  that  any  particular  species  of  tree  is  preferred 
by  the  Fish-hawk.     It  places  its  nest  in  the  fork  of  an  oak 
or  a  pine  with  equal  jAeasure.     But  I  have  observed  that 
the  tree  chosen  is  usually  of  considerable  size,  and  not  un- 
frequently  a  decayed  one. 

The  Fish-hawk  is  gregarious,  and  often  breeds  in  colonies 
of  three  or  four  nests  in  an  area  of  a  few  acres.  The  males 
assist  in  incubation. 

I  have  heard  of  instances  of  as  many  as  a  dozen  nests 
being  found  in  the  distance  of  half  a  mife  on  the  coast  of 

New  Jersey. 

In  New  England,  the  species  is  not  so  plentiful,  and  sel- 
dom more  than  one  nest  can  be  found  in  one  locality.  The 
flight  of  the  bird  is  strong,  vigorous,  and  well  sustained. 
As  he  flies  over  the  ocean,  at  a  height  of  perhaps  fifty 


THE  FISH-HAWK. 


59 


sometimos  immersed  to    ho  <lS'„  \  V    .        '  "'"*  '" 
".C1.0S  in  l,is  efforts  to  canturt  i       He  •      f  ^  "'=""""' 

Ihe  eggs  are  usually  laid  before  the  10th  of  Ar  t    V, 
are  generally  three  in  number       Tl.  ^^     ^''"'^ 

«.-ee„.i,.e„t.a„aJ::     -r^t^^^^^^^^ 

1.83  in  breadtl!  ""'"'  '"  '"«"''  "■"■  '™»  l-^o  to 


'Ui 


iLslii 


ill 


60 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


h:^ 


Family  STRIGID^E.    Tue  Owls. 

ro™  usually  short  and  h.avy,  .ith  tl.  '-tSS::^'';'^;^'.^ 

t,K.  capture  of  animals  in  the  n,ornin«  and  evening  ^^^         ^^^,^,  „f  ,p,,ies, 
E,e.  usually  ve..  lar.e  ^^^^^'^^^l^  ^^^ Ln«,  curved,  nearly 
foru.cd  for  BeeniK  by  tw  hj^ht  «"';;:  ^  ,,,„,,  lon,^  outer  edges  of 

concealed  by  projecting,  bnstle-l.ke  tatlars    w    h    ^  ^^^     .^^  ^^^ 

,„.i„>arv  quills  fringed,  legs  seuerally  rather  f "  '  *  "  ^  ^^ '  ^^,;,  ^f  the  ear 
Liatic  genus  iK.„,.,  rno.  c.  less  .a^  er^,  ^'fljjl^-i,,  ,  J,  ^„u.e., 
:SSL  ri^:;i.  g?;:  7L.  U..L  ....y  peeuHar  and  .equently 
catlike  expression.    Female  larger  than  the  male. 

'Sub-Family  Bvbo^i^m. -The  Horned  Oivls. 


11 


III 


BUBO,  CiviF.K. 

B,M  C-vtEV.  Rc^gne  Animal,  I.  ^^l  <^';^;^;         ,.  ,^,.^,i ,,        ,,;„,  ronspicuouB 
Si.e  la^g..  general  ...nu  very  rohus     nd  F-    '^^  ^  ^  ,^^^«  J     ^,,,„^,  ,,,,,y 

'•IS^r^Lles  the  large  Horned  O^KorC^O^K^ 
lalle.l.     These  birds  are  most  nunun.us  m  Asu.  ana 
countries  about  tiftcen  species. 

BUBO   YlUVAmk'&'GS.  —  Bonnpnrte. 
The  Great  Horned  Owl. 

,.     •  •         r^      Sv.t  Xat    L2h7(lT88)-    Bonap.  Syn.,  p.  37.    Nutt.,  5. 

Slrix  Vir'iminnn.Cim.     ^^^t.  >\ai-,  i- ■"  '  ^         / 

124.     Wilson,  Audubon,  and  others.  c,.  n«qn 

B„6„«w;m,  Swains.    Faun.  Bur.    Am.  Bn-ds  p.  Sb  (1831). 

;:;:::;r:.irr  ^;  r.:r  :':r«;'ir.u.„,  ;.„,. .... .,.,.  ™ 


THE   GREAT   HORNED   OWL. 

bn'  ,,        ,     "'"•"^  "^'^''^ftoial  disc  tipped  wftl   1 1    l       "      '•""'''^h-fulvous,  usually 

<l»"t;  »o  mud,  so.  tl.at  I   ,    "  ,■"'"'  "  '^ '«  ■■>'"■■- 

«'«  picture  of  hearing  i,u  I-  2  /T ™""''=  ^  »"»"  """ 
"■'■"  "-"taiuod  ,1,0  Co  "wf, :,'"'"""'■•'■-'-'' ""» 
slioros  or  Lake  L'ml.ago.r-  our  .,V  ?"'^""',,ed  „„  the 
oveHook,„g  the  lake,  J,d  b   ,M  "*°''""  ""  »  ^'''^ 

""'■  '"■'"  ■'■••I'-  "'"  -vcet  follower  of  o     d  vC  ^1      '!''  """ 
verean-akened  l.y  the  hooting^ „,■  „'    "^  ^        ,   '  "''""  "« 
*"»,  /..»,  /wo/"  or  "  Who  e,mkT  °""  ""^ "  «««  ""''s,  "  II;-,^/,, 
'■-vcller  understood  it    vh,,    "'  f""  '      "'^  ""^  ^^'-t  '■■ 
'■■■"-"■■ce  alu,„«t  over  our         '"";""«  »-''i--od  ,„  u, 
"""II"-'''  t""k  U|,  the  tl,en,e  -...d    I,    7 'l"*""'-''!  ^  l"'«e„lly 

;-;"  «"-oir  n„i,,ed  „,:  ■  z  :ci.  "'«"'""■•■  ■^•'"■' 

l»l<«,  came  the  shrill,  moarnful  ,  .         '        "  ""'"-^  "1'  "'" 
'I-  was  eoutiuucd  a„d"a      v  '  d    >    ,r''™"  "'■  "'°  '^°»"  ^ 

•^"«'  this  had  Uied  alri,  ;  ;:'„"'''',,';«l-''l™.«  sounds. 
''  '"'^l'  '.«ar  our  ,„„t  the  .l     1,    J  ''  """•  """«  «""^'  f''"». 


s^^ 


62 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


cannot  imagine  the  effect  produced  by  the  contrast :  he  must 
be  on  the  spot  in  the  dark  night,  and,  through  the  sighnig  of 
the  winds  amid  the  grand  old  trees,  hear  the  owls  and  loons ; 
then,  silence,  broken  by  the  beautiful  song  of  the  Nightni- 

gale.  .    , 

The  flioht  of  the  Great  Horned  Owl  is  rapid,  noiseless, 
and  vigomis :  he  passes  through  the  mazes  of  the  forest 
with  great  dexterity  and  ease ;  and,  when  flymg  above  the 
trees,  frequently  soars  in  the  manner  of  the  Hawks.  He  is 
very  destructive  among  domestic  poultry,  frequently  pouncing 
on  fowls  that  are  roosting  on  trees  in  the  night,  and  bearing 
them  off  in  his  powerful  grasp.  This  habit  has  rendered 
him  obnoxious  to  the  farmers,  who  lose  no  opportunity  lor 
destroying  him.  Rabbits,  grouse,  and  other  birds,  fall  vic- 
tims to  his  rapacity ;  and  I  have  often  shot  imlividuals  of 
this  species,  whose  feathers  were  so  impregnated  with  the 
peculiar  odor  of  the  skunk  as  to  be  unbearable  at  a  near 

approach. 

When  a  flock  of  crows  discover  the  presence  ot  one  ot 
these  birds,  they  immediately  collect  from  all  quarters,  and 
attack  him  on  every  side,  uttering  their  harsh,  discordant 
cries :  the  owl  is  kept  dancing  and  dodging  on  the  limb,  his 
perch,  hi  a  ludicrous  manner ;  if  he  takes  to  flight,  he  is 
pursued  by  his  enemies,  and  soon  forced  to  alight.  I  have 
often  been  enabled  to  procure  a  specimen,  by  lollowmg 
a  noisy  mob  of  this  description  ;  just  as  we  often  are  able 
to  secure  one  of  the  smaller  owls  by  proceeding  to  the  copae 
where  numbers  of  small  birds  -  cat-birds,  chewinks,  and 
thrushes  — arc  scolding  at  their  enemy. 

I  liave  had  several  specimens  of  the  Great  Horned  Owl 
in  captivity :  they  make  amusing  pets.  When  fed  with  raw 
meat,  they  seldom  take  it  fi-eely  from  the  hand  or  tongs; 
and  often  can  be  made  to  swallow  it,  only  by  our  opening 
their  bills,  and  putting  in  the  meat.  They  seem  to  have 
the  power  of  seeing  by  daylight;  for,  if  a  living  animal  is 
introduced  into  their  cage,  they  instantly  seize  it.     I  have 


&1 


If*' 


Ui 


iill 


it 

f 

^1 

'! 

vJ! 


il 


ubour 

■  ■['  ; 

i  iC  ! 

b(.'l  --(  su.i! 


Okfat  IIoHNF.n  Owi-,  Piiho  Vin/iiiidiins.     RoimpnctP. 


i- 


THE   GREAT    HuRNED   OWL,  ,);!, 

.      r    ;f  ',':  '*  *."'-  """'•  '""^  »**^  '«■     '^  I"-l.Hr  l,at  (  id 

8Mml,  but,  a(t,.  kill,,,,  va,  rejoc.ed.    Tho  sfo,,^ 

"..-ky^coMt  ,«„,.„■  ..  M,«,  a,m„ak  ,„ay  l.avo  bee,,  tl,:; 
.  ,«„  for  H,.  „,vr,  ,„„  „ati,.B  ,t:  if  ,„„,  J  „a,„,„|  .,„„„„. 

1.1  catinj?  its  r„.o3.,  tho  Owl  siaud.  on  it  with  both  feet,  and 
tears  it  wi  h  m  bill :  if  tho  pieco  torn  off  is  la.vo,  tho  head 
)s  thrower  back.a.u]  tlu)  n.poatc.1  ccitraction  of  "the  nuiscl.s 
oi   tho  flu  oat  ;  ■    ;    1  '•,   1    1  r  ' 

'  !  hohhiip-  a  iiioiiso  or  othiu- 


m  it, 

''ii« 

tmiiiig  his  head,  at  the  Mrini.' 
<tf»d  swallov  ^ 


sinali  oiiii'.t 
wiule  ;:  , 
Ow^J^a.  .; 
and  follows  h 
tiaiG  s; 

in  uiii,,: 
are  taken.  ■.; 

Tho  Great  Hwncd  ■    . 

ittost  rdirod  and  inaccoH.iblo  places  m  the  U,  ■        ,  ^s  -'and 

n.o^ndent  migla  soarclrlbr  week.  Ibr  its  nest,  and  nol  ind 

t  un  os«  1^  aouidenh     It  U  usu,l]y  j^nt  i„  ^  tWk  of  a  tali 

roo,  but  i^minetim.H  m^de  i.i  a  holhnv  of  a  tree  or  h.  th- 

top  nf  ;■•  .-';?]>  or  stnuii).     And-  '        '  •. 


of 


>  t  if<  con.-fr'ir'*!-;! 


'  leavos,  trrassi  ■ 
ill  n umbo r :  (*ouM>tiiii ^ 

'        '  '       mih  a 


iiat  I  1. 
ubouf  tile  middh'  *■}{     ■ 
'■'■  beec:, 


M,ar;i:i. 


I  nit  of  twigs  and  sticks 
:t}-:  in  tlie  middle  oi  ■ 


1. 


J 

h 

i 

^ 

I 


II 


(i- 


'h 


m  .:-■ 


•i 


"•Si^  J- 


■.i^ 


Ne^ 


.;^^; 


often  J 

l>y  whii 

soizod  i 

pertillo 

seized, 

musky  s 

reason  i 

ibr  it. 

In  eat 

tears  it  ^ 

is  throwi 

of  the  til 

small  ol)^ 

while  the 

Owl,  as  ii 

and  follo' 

time  snaj 

In  drin 

are  taken, 

The  Gr( 

most  retin 

the  studen 

it  unless  h 

tree,  but  ii 

tup  of  a  sti 

of  rocks. 

witli  loaves 

ill  number 

^vliite  color, 

nearly  splie 

2  inches. 

A  nest  tl 
al)out  tlie  ni 
stub  of  a  b 
heing  exanii 
bers  sufficieu 


■ 


>M 


^art*". 


THE   GREAT   HOIINED   OWL. 

-■•-d  it,  as  if  it  tvt:,r  ;::,a":;T  aT  "-'  ,™'-">' 

O'^'-'oi,  hut,  arte,,  bei  ."V  r  f  """"^'.'""'l'  »"«  i"»ta„tly 
■"uxky  SCO,,    ,,cc„Iia     °  ,,  "     '  "'  fJ"'""''-    Tl'o  »t,o„K 

;:o-,  fo..  ti,e'  owrilu  ,;:  ir."-r;;;T ''-'«="" '"' 

lor  it.  ®      •  "  "*^t,  1  cannot  account 

toat  Ht,'«,1S'.'';;°'^'  ''''"'  ""  "  -'"  "»"■  f«"«.  and 
is  «.™w,.  b    M     •„        1';;:™  '»'■»  of.!-'  l«.go,  tl,o  head 

of  «.o  .l„oat  f  ,.ces  i   do  ,       I„  7  7"""  "'  "'"  '""^*' 
0>vl,  as  i„dood  do  al„,o     al    1  °'  ""T  "I'l"'""''",!,  tl,i, 

'«o,  b„t  ir,:,::".- 1 ,11 ;;::  j,,"'"";" » ^o*  or  a  tm, 

top  of  a  .,,,,1,  0,  ,t,„       "7°      "  ''"""'"Of  »  t,-ce  0,-  i„  tl,o 

of  rocks.    It  is  CO    t,  ;ct.d  ,     ""'  "  ''"""  "'  fi"-*"™ 

with  leave.  g,asse    ' ,    '1^^";  1-^  '-*='«.  »"<>  is  li„od 

-l"to  colo,.  „    la  ™;  f!^  ;■'  T'^  ,'""'■"■•  «-^  »■■»  of  a 

-.■..s,..,;icai,:,:d'd:^rs;:ri::rtt"^v' 

-  Indies.  *  "^^  '"•-'^  inclies  by 

st„b  of  a  beech    whi  h  ,1        '  ""  '"  "  '»"'  ''o"""' 

l'ei„g  cxa„,i„ed.  as  btilt  .    f""'"  '"'■  ""  '""'l'-«  "f 

bo,-s  sufficict  to  fil  tircavU  T  '"'f  ^'"'^'  "'  ""»- 

tl,e  ca;  ,ly :  ,„  the  middle  of  these  were 


Wv 


u 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


!    ;  1, 


I 


arranged  a  few  leaves  and  pieces  of  uiohh,  and  a  few  feath- 
ers from  the  body  of  the  parent;  on  this  nest  wore  found 
throe  young  birds,  apparently  but  a  few  days  old,  as  they 
were  covered  with  gi-ay  ilown,  and  a  few  grayish  feath- 
ers. On  being  taken  in  the  hiind,  they  clutched  it  tight 
with  tlieir  claws,  and  K(|uatted  [)erfeetly  still.  The  iris 
of  their  eyes  was  a  light-grayish  color :  the  inside  of  their 
mouths,  eyelids,  and  ears,  wore  yellowish.  At  the  foot  of 
the  stump  were  found  small  pellets  of  feathers,  small  bones, 
and  hairs.  I  have  heard  of  the  deserted  nest  of  a  crow  or 
hawk  being  occupied  by  this  Owl ;  but  usually  it  builds  its 
own  nest. 

SCOPS,  SwioNV. 

SAVifi.NY,  Nat.  Hist.  E^^vi.t.  I.  105  (180U). 

Sizi'sinull;  oar-tut'ts  loiisiii.  nous;  huMil  liirgo;  facial  disc  imperffct  in  front  and 
alxmt  tlif  oyes;  l)iil  slmrt,  marly  cciveiTd  hy  liroji'i'tinf;  ft'atiicrs;  wings  idiij,';  tail 
ratlifr  siiort,  and  freiiucnlly  curviil  itnvards;  tarsi  ratlior  itmg,  niiiri-  or  less  fully 
covered  with  short  featiiers;  toes  long,  guntTally  piirtially  covered  with  hair-like 
feathers;   head  large. 

General  furni  «hort  and  compact.  Tlii^<  genns  r  .ntains  twenty -tive  to  thirty 
species  of  small  owls,  inhabiting  all  parts  of  the  world  except  Australia. 


M^^-l   .« 


SCOPS  ASIO.  —  Bomiparte. 
The  Mottled  Owl ;  Screech  Owl ;  Red  Owl. 

Stiix  Asia,  Linn.Tus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  132  { 176G).    Audubon,  AVilson,  and  others. 

Strlx  Meviit,  Gm.     Syst.  Xat.,  L  289  ( 1788). 

Bubo  strhtiis,  Vieillot.     Ois.  d'Am.  ,Sei>t.,  I.  C4  (1808). 

Dicsriiii'TioN. 

"Short  and  compact;  ear-tufts  prominent:  tail  short;  tarsi  rather  long. 

".4(/m/<.  —  Upper  parts  pale  ashy-brown,  with  longitudinal  lines  of  brownish-blaek, 
and  nuittled  irregularly  with  the  same  and  with  cinereous;  under  parts  ashy-white, 
with  longituilinal  stripes  of  lirownish-l)laek,  and  with  transverse  lines  of  the  same 
color:  face,  throat,  and  tarsi  ashy-white,  irregularly  lined  and  mottled  with  iiule- 
brownish;  (luills  brown,  with  transverse  bands,  nearly  white  on  the  outer  wi'bs; 
tail  pale  ashy-brown,  with  about  ten  transverse  narrow  bands  of  pale-cinereous; 
under  wing  coverts  white,  the  larger  tijiped  with  black ;  bill  and  claws  light  horn- 
color;  irides  yellow. 

"  }'(»/HV(fr.  —  Kntire  upper  parts  pale  brownish-red,  with  longitudinal  lines  of 
brownish-black,  espeiially  on  the  head  and  scapulars;  face,  throat,  und' r  winj^ 
coverts,  and  tarsi  reddish-white;  quills  reddish-brown;  tail  rufous,  with  bands  of 
brown,  darker  on  the  inner  webs. 


THE   MOTTLKI)   OWL. 


65 


i"^Hir''i::rir';.i;;:  :.':;r.:;i':,;;:;r"'  ^^""^'  •--<  •-"•  •"-  -^  *  ^-^ 

'"H.siial  (0  find  «  motilfd  i.„,l..  an.l  ,.,.,!  •  '  l''"'""K''!  ""I  it  i.  net 

Cas«in.  ""  '  "'"'  '"'  '""">'"  ««wiutcd,  or  the  reverse.'- Jo.,.v 

As  will,   many  of  tl.o  other  l.inis  of  nn-v    (lu>  .Ilfr...     . 
plumages  in  whid,  this  owl  is  taken  havo     .,'. 
fusion  ;  and,  as  Mr.  Cussin  tndy  x  n    l,  ^  ^T"  •  "'"" 

yet  settled  (.yond  douht.     The  '        '"""'""  '^  ""^ 

observation  luis  generally  been, 
that  the  young  birds  are  in  the 
red  plumage;    but  I  liavo  cer- 
tainly known    of  one  instance 
when    the  young   bird   was   in 
tl»o  gray.      A  nest  was   rom.d 
in    a    hollow   tre<^    in    iMihon, 
Mass.,    in     which    there     were 
tiiroo  young  birds.     Thev  u.mv 
ponnittetl  to  n-nniin  ;  and  1  vis- 
ited the  nest  as  often  as  everv 
two   days   until    they   Ijcw  off; 
The  last  time  that  I  saw  them,' 
—  the  day  before  they  left  the' 

nest,- th.^'  ,        Hdiy  tiedged,  and  tluy  had  very  few  n.arks 
of  brown.sh-red   in   tlu^ir  phnnage.     Whe.her  this  W  s  an 
except.on>dca.e,Iknownot;butJwillprese^^^ 
.    ons  o^  ddl^rent  ornm..h,gists  wlneh  eon^^ 
ou    .     I  ^^  II  also  quote  Audubon's  description  of  the  habit; 
oi  the  bu-d,  as  It  is  better  than  I  can  give  fron.  my  on 

no..eIo..s.     It  ,,.es  at  tunes  aln.vo  the  top  branches  of  the  hb^hc-st 
of  our  ^rest  trees  whiU  in  pursuit  of  l^  beetles ;  ^^ 

6 


.!  t)} 


:;-^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


m 


I'd 

d  m 


|M 

2.2 
2.0 


1.8 


1-25      1.4       1 6 

^ 5" 

» 

VQ 


*^^       ^%!!i 


'^1 


a 


/ 


# 


/J. 


/; 


^. 


'r 


Sciences 
Corpomtiori 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  877-4503 


#%">  "<'.. 

#»>^' 
>»^^ 


RH 


66 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


u,i  r 


'dm. 


times  sails  low  and  swiftly  over  the  fields,  or  through  the  woods, 
in  search  of  small  birds,  field-mice,  moles,  or  wood-rats,  from  which 
it  chiefly  derives  its  subsistence.      On  alighting,  -  which  it  does 
plumply,  — the  Mottled  Owl  immediately  bends  its  body,  turns  its 
head  to  look  behind  it,  performs  a  curious  nod,  utters  its  notes, 
then  shakes  and  plumes  itself,  and  resumes  its  flight  m  search  ot 
prey      It  now  and  then,  while  on  the  wing,  produces  a  clickmg 
sound  with  its  mandibles,  but  more  frequently  when  perched  near 
its  mate  or  young.     This  I  have  thought  was  done  by  the  bird  to 
manifest  its  courage,  and  let  the  hearer  know  that  it  is  not  to  be 
meddled  with;  although  few  birds  of  prey  are  more  gentle  when 
seized,  as  it  will  suffer  a  person  to  touch  its  feathers  and  caress  it 
without  attempting  to  bite  or  strike  with  its  talons,  unless  at  rare 

intcrviilSi 

"  The  notes  of  this  Owl  are  uttered  in  a  tremulous,  doleful 
manner,  and  somewhat  resemble  the  chattering  of  the  teeth  of  a 
person  under  the  influence  of  extreme  cold,  although  much  louder. 
They  are  heard  at  a  distance  of  several  hundred  yards,  and  by 
some  people  are  thought  to  be  of  ominous  import." 

These  notes  almost  exactly  resemble  the  whimpering 
whine  of  a  small  dog,  for  which  I  have  mistaken  them  on 
different  occasions. 

"The  little  fellow  is  generally  found  about  fiirm-houses,  or- 
chards, and  gardens.  It  alights  on  the  roof,  the  fence,  or  the 
garden--ate,  and  utters  its  mournful  ditty,  at  intervals,  for  hours  at 
a  time,°as  if  it  were  in  a  state  of  great  suffering;  although  this  is 
far  from  being  the  case,  -  the  song  of  all  birds  being  an  indication 
of  content  and  happiness.  In  a  state  of  confinement,  it  utters  its 
notes  with  as  much  satisfoction  as  if  at  liberty.  They  are  chiefly 
heard  during  the  latter  part  of  winter,  —  that  being  the  season  of 
love,  when  the  male  bird  is  particularly  attentive  to  the  fair  one 
which  excites  his  tender  emotions,  and  around  which  he  flies  and 
struts  much  in  the  manner  of  the  common  Pigeon,  adding  numer- 
ous nods  and  bows,  the  sight  of  which  is  very  amusing. 

"The  young  remain  in  the  nest  until  they  are  able  to  fly.  At 
fiist,  they  are  covered  with  a  downy  substance  of  a  dull  yellowish- 
white.     By  the  jniddle  of  August,  they  are  fully  feathered,  and 


THE  MOTTLED   OWL. 


67 


are  then  generally  of  a  reddish-brown,  although  considerable  differ- 
ences  ex.st  between  individuals,  as  I  have  seen  some  of  a  deep- 
chocolate  color,  and  others  nearly  black.  The  feathers  change 
hen-  colors  as  the  pairing  season  advances,  and  in  the  first  snrin^ 
the  bird  IS  in  the  perfect  dress."  ° 

Jan'  1^"  1  «rr''''   ''f  "f  "'   '^''    "  ^"^"^*^'^   Gentleman," 
Jan.  11,  18bb,  says  that  he  secured  two  young  birds  of  this 

species  when  covered  with  down,  and  kept  them  until  they 

r^d  in'cX  ''^'  ''^''''  *^''""  P^"^''«'  ^^'  ^''''^'^^y 

J.  P.  Giraud,  in  his  "  Birds  of  Long  Island,"  gives  a 

ter  from  J.  G.  Bell,  of  New  York,  intvhich  that  g  He! 

man  says,  that  he  has  taken  the  young  birds  from  the  nest, 

covered  with  grayish-brown,  and  kept  them  through  theii' 

hrst  plumage,  winch  was  red  in  color. 

These  and  other  writers  seem  to  agree  that  the  red  plum- 

age  IS  that  of  the  bird  in  the  first  year.     I  leave 'it  to 

futm-e   experimenters   to   determine   the  matter  beyond  a 

Tins  bird  feeds  largely  on  the  injurious  night-flyin. 
moths  and  beetles.  Numbers  of  specimens  thai  I  have 
examined  contained  in  their  stomachs  parts  of  these  in- 
sects  and  small  mammals:  very  seldom  indeed  did  they 
liave  feathers  or  other  parts  of  birds 

trJ  oft^^'"^'?i  ^^'^  :"^''''  ^'''  "  "««t"'8-Place   a  hollow 
ttfi.!   Vm  'f''^'"'^^  commences  laying  at  about 

he  first  of  May,  m  the  latitude  of  the  middle  of  Massachu- 
setts.     7  he  nest  is  made  at  the  bottom  of  the  hollow,  and 
IS  constructed  of  grass,  leaves,  moss,  and  sometimes  a  few 
fea  hers      It  is  not  elaborately  made,  being  nothing  n.ore 
than  a  heap  of  soft  materials.     The  eggs  are  usually  four 
HI  number:  they  are  pure-white,  smooth,  and  nearly  spher- 
ical 111  form.     Their  length  varies  from  1.80  to  1.37  inch  • 
orea  th  from  1.18  to  1.25  inch.     Both  parents  assisrin' 
incubation,  and  the  same  pair  occupy  the  nest  for  succeed- 
ing years. 


i 


:'■- 


68 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


OTUS,  CuviER. 

Otu3,  CrviER,  Rt'gne  Animal,  L  327  (1817). 

General  form  longer  and  more  slender  than  in  the  preceding  genera;  head  mod- 
erate; ear-tults  long,  erectile;  bill  rather  short,  curved  Crom  tlie  base;  facial  disc 
more  perfect  than  in  the  preceding;  -vvings  long;  tail  moderate;  tarsi  and  toes  cov- 
ered with  short  feathers;  claws  long,  curved;  eyes  rather  small,  and  surrounded  by 
radiating  feathers. 

This  genus  contains  ten  or  twelve  species  of  various  countries,  nil  of  which  are 
more  handsome  birds  than  are  usually  met  with  in  this  family. 


it 

■i 


ifi'T. 


nil: 


OTUS  WILSONIANUS.  — Z,esson. 
The  Long-eared  Owl. 

Otus  Wilsonianvg,  Lesson.    Traite  d'Orn.,  L  110  (1831). 

Olus  Americanus,  Bonaparte.    Comp.  List,  7  (1838).    Syn.,  37. 

Strix  otus,  Wilson.    Bonaparte's  edition,  449. 

Strix  otus,  Linuoeus.    Aud.  Orn.  liiog.,  IV.  572.    Nuttall,  I.  130. 

DEsciarxioN. 

Ear-tufts  long  and  conspicuous;  eyes  rather  small;  wings  long;  tarsi  and  toes 
densely  feathered;  upper  parts  mottled  with  brownish-black,  fulvous,  and  asliy- 
white,  the  former  predominating;  breast  pale-fulvous,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of 
brownish-black;  abdomen  white;  every  feather  with  a  wide  longitudinal  stripe,  and 
with  transverse  stripes  of  brown  isii-black;  legs  anC  toes  pale-fulvous,  usually 
unspotted,  but  frequently  with  irregular  narrow  transverse  stripes  of  dark-brown ; 
eye  nearlv  encircled  with  black;  other  feathers  of  the  face  ashy-white,  with  niinuie 
lines  of  black;  ear-tut^s  brownish-black  edged  with  fulvous  and  ashy-wliite;  (pulls 
pale-fulvous  at  their  bases,  with  irregular  transverse  bands  of  brown;  inferior 
coverts  of  the  wing  pale-fulvous,  frequently  nearly  white ;  the  larger  widely  tipped 
with  bUick;  tail  brown,  with  several  irreguhir  transverse  bands  of  ashy-fulvous, 
wliich  arc  mottled,  as  on  the  quills;  liill  aud  claws  dark  horn-color;  irides  yellow. 

Total  length,  female,  about  filteen  inches;  wing,  eleven  to  eleven  and  a  halt;  tail, 
six  inches.    Male  rather  smaller. 

This  species  is  rather  common  in  New  England,  rather 
preferring  the  less  settled  districts  to  the  others.  It  is 
eminently  nocturnal  in  its  habits,  and  has  the  power  of  see- 
ing in  the  daytime  to  a  less  degree  than  any  of  the  other 
species  with  which  I  am  acquainted. 

A  specimen  that  I  once  had,  as  a  pet,  could  not  see  my 
hand  as  it  approached  him,  and  would  permit  my  finger  to 
touch  his  eye  before  he  drew  over  it  the  thin  nictitating 
membrane  given  to  all  birds  to  protect  this  delicate  organ. 

I  do  not  remember  of  ever  hearing  this  owl  utter  a  cry 


THE  LONG-EARED   OWL. 


69 


111  Its  nocturnal  rambles;   and  I  think  that  it  hunts  in 
silence,  except,  perhaps,  in  the  mating  season. 

Tlie  specimen  in  my  possession  would  not  eat  in  the  day- 
time ;  and,  if  I  fed  it  then,  was  obliged  to  push  the  food  down 
Its  throat  with  my  finger:  at  night,  it  fed  readily  on  raw 
meat,  but  was  rather  loath  to  eat  when  I  was  by,  or  when  a 
lamp  was  near  its  cage.  I  had  water  always  accessible  to 
It,  but  never  saw  it  drink,  and  think,  that,  in  the  space  of 
two  months,  it  drank  not  more  than  two  or  three  times ;  or 
If  It  did,  the  quantity  it  took  was  so  small  as  not  to  bo 
appreciable. 

Notwithstanding  the  comparative  abundance  of  this  spe- 
cies. Its  breeding  habits  are  not  well  known.     I  have  been 
so  fortunate  as  to  find  several  nests,  all  of  which  were  built 
111  forks  of  tall  pines,  and  constructed  of  twigs  and  leaves 
Audubon  says :  — 

^  "  The  Long-eared  Owl  is  careless  as  to  the  situation  in  which 
Its  young  are  to  be  reared,  and  generally  accommodates  itself  witJi 
the  abandoned  nest  of  some  other  bird  that  proves  of  sufficient 
size,  whether  it  be  high  or  low,  in  the  fissure  of  a  rock  or  on  the 
ground.  Sometimes,  however,  it  makes  a  nest  itself;  and  this  I 
found  to  be  the  case  in  one  instance  near  the  Juniata  River,  in 
lennsylvania,  where  it  was  composed  of  green  twigs,  with  the 
leaflets  adhering,  and  lined  with  fresh  grass  and  wool,  but  without 
any  feathers." 

Wilson  describes  its  breeding  habits  as  follows  :  — 
"About  six  or  seven  miles  below  Philadelphia,  and  not  far  from 
the  Delaware,  is  a  low  swamp,  thickly  covered  with  trees,  and 
inundated  during  a  great  part  of  the  year.  This  place  is  the  resort 
of  great  numbers  of  the  qua  bird  (xNight  Heron),  where  they  build 
in  large  companies.  On  the  2oth  of  April,  while  wading  through 
the  dark  recesses  of  this  place,  observing  the  habits  of  these  birds, 
I  discovered  a  Long-eared  Owl,  which  had  taken  possession  of  one 
ot  their  nests,  and  was  setting.  On  mounting  to  the  nest,  I  found 
It  contained  four  eggs;  and,  breaking  one  of  them,  the  youn-. 
appeared  almost  ready  to  leave  the  shell.     There  were  numbers  of 


|l  h 


70 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


the  qua  birds'  nests  on  the  adjoinhig  trees  all  around,  and  one 
of  them  actually  on  the  same  tree." 

The  reader  will  perceive  from  the  above  account  of  the 
breeding  habits  of  this  bird,  that  it  is  variable  in  its  choice 
of  a  nesting-place,  although  every  nest  that  I  have  found, 
or  known  of,  was  built  in  tall  pines,  and  constructed  as 
above ;  and  I  have  known  instances  where  the  same  nest 
was  used  for  successive  breeding  seasons. 

The  e'^gs  are  generally  four  in  number,  seldom  more. 
They  are  nearly  spherical  in  form,  and  of  a  pure-white 
color.  Dimensions  of  specimens  in  my  collection  vary  from 
1.40  to  1.60  inch  in  length,  by  from  1.30  to  1.40  inch  in 

breadth. 

BRACHYOTUS,  Gould. 

Brachyotm,  Gould,  Proo.  Zool.  Soc,  London,  1837, 10. 

Ear-tutlts  very  short  and  inconspicuous;  general  form  rather  strong;  wings  long; 
tail  moderate;  legs  rather  long,  which,  with  the  toes,  are  fully  covered  with  short 
feathers;  claws  long,  very  sharp,  and  rather  slender;  head  moderate;  eyes  rather 
small,  surrounded  by  radiating  feathers;  facial  disc  imperfect  on  the  forehead  and 
above  the  eyes;  tail  moderate. 

This  genus  contains  four  or  five  species  only,  the  two  best  known  of  which  are 
the  European. 

BEACHTOTUS  CASSINII.  —  5re!oer. 
The  Short-eared  Owl. 

Brachyoim  Cassinii,  Brewer.    Proc.  Boston  Soc.  of  Nat.  Hist. 
Struc  brachyotus,  Forster.    Phil.  Trans.,  London,  LXIL  384  (1772). 
Slrix  brachyotus,  Linua;us.    Wilson  and  others. 

Description. 

Ear-tufts  very  short ;  entire  plumage  buff  or  pale- fulvous ;  everj'  feather  on  the 
upper  parts  with  a  wide  longitudinal  stripe  of  dark-brown,  which  color  predominates 
on  the  back;  under  parts  paler,  frequently  nearly  white  on  the  abdomen,  with 
longitudinal  stripes  of  brownish-black,  most  numerous  on  the  breast,  very  narrow 
and  less  numerous  on  the  abdomen  and  flanks ;  legs  and  toes  usually  of  a  deeper 
shade  of  the  same  color  as  the  abdomen;  quills  pale  reddish-fulvous  at  their  bases, 
brown  at  their  ends,  with  wide  irregular  bands  and  large  spots  of  reddish-fulvous ; 
tail  pale  reddish-fulvous,  with  about  five  irregular  transverse  bands  of  dark-brown, 
which  color  predominates  on  the  two  central  feathers;  under  tail  coverts  usually 
nearly  white;  throat  white;  eyes  enclosed  by  large  spots  of  brownish-black;  ear- 
tufts  brown,  edged  with  fulvous;  bill  and  claws  dark;  irides  yellow. 

Total  length,  female,  about  fifteen  inches;  wing,  twelve;  tail,  six  inches.  Male 
rather  smaller. 


THE  GRAY  OWLS. 


71 


I  regret  being  unable  to  add  any  tiling  to  our  knowledge 
of  the  history  of  this  bird.  I  l^ave  had  no  opportunities 
for  observing  its  habits,  and  know  of  nothing  that  has  been 
noted  recently  which  will  add  to  our  information.  It  is 
not  common  in  any  part  of  New  England,  and  is,  I  believe 
more  often  met  with  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  seacoast 
than  elsewhere.  I  have  never  met  with  its  nest,  but  have 
no  doubt  that  it  breeds  in  these  States,  as  specimens  are 
occasionally  taken  here  in  summer. 

Richardson  says  that  its  nest  is  formed  of  withered  grass 
and  moss,  and  is  built  on  the  ground.     Dr.  Bryant  ("  Pro 
ceedings  of  Boston  Society  of  ^Natural  History,"  January, 
l«o7)  describes  a  nest  found  on  an  island  in  the  Bav  of 
Fundy  as  follows  :  — 

"A  nest  of  this  bird  was  found  by  Mr.  Cabot  in  the  midst  of  a 
dry  peaty  bog.  It  was  built  on  the  ground,  in  a  very  slovenly 
manner,  of  small  sticks  and  a  few  feathers,  and  presented  hardlv 
hafched'"''''^'''"'     ^^  '^"'''^""'^  ^^"^  ^SS^  «^  the  point  of  being 

The  eggs  of  this  species  are  of  a  pure-white  color,  and 
vary  in  dimensions  from  1.65  inch  by  1.25  inch  to  1.50  inch 
by  1.23  inch. 


Suh-Famihj  ^xum^M.  —  The  Gray  Owls. 

Head  large  with  ver>^  small  and  concealed  ear-tufts,  or  entirely  without.  Facial 
d,sc  nearly  perfect,  eyes  small  for  the  family  of  owls ;  wings  rather  shortorntso 
o„g  as  m  the  preceding,  tarsi  and  toes  generally  fully  feathered.    This  group  con- 

qu'ursmall.  "      ''''  ""'  ""'^ '  ^'^"^""^''  '"''''"'^''  ^-^^  -'^  '^  -'"-'  -d  Z 

SYRNIUM,  Savigny. 
Syrniim,  Savigny,  Nat.  Hist.  Egypt,  I.  lit  (1809). 

Size  usually  large;  head  large,  without  ear-tufts,  eyes  rather  small-  facial  disc 

somewhat  imperfect  in  front,  bill  strong,  curved  from' its  base,™  ^  n  o^;  " 

mewha    rounded,  fourth  and  fifth  quills  longest,  tail  rather  lo;g,  wfde,7nd  utS 

ally  rounded  at  the  end,  legs  moderate,  or  rather  long,  which,  wi  h  the  toesle 

densely  covered  with  short  feathers;  claws  long,  strong,  very  shaq,. 


»\l 


I-  i    oi 


:fl 


72 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Species  of  this  genus  inhabit  principally  the  northern  parts  of  the  world,  and  are 
generally  characterized  by  the  prevalence  of  gray  or  cinereous,  of  various  shades,  in 
their  plumage. 

STENIUM   CINEREDM.  — ^urfuJon. 

The  Great  Gray  Owl. 

Strix  cinerea,  Gm.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  291  (1788).    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  884. 
Strix  accUmator,  Bartram.    Travels,  289  (1790). 

Description. 

The  largest  Owl  of  North  America.  Head  very  large;  eyes  small;  tail  rather 
long;  upper  parts  smoky  or  ashy  brown,  mottled  and  frnnsversely  barred  with 
ashy-white;  under  parts  ashy-white,  with  numerous  longitudinal  stripes  of  dark 
ashy-brown  predominating  on  the  breast,  and  with  transverse  stripes  of  the  same  on 
the  abdomen,  legs,  and  under  tail  coverts ;  quills  brown,  with  about  five  wide,  irregu- 
lar bands  of  ashy-white;  tail  brown,  with  five  or  six  wide,  irregular  bands  of  ashy- 
•vvhite,  mottled  with  dark-brown;  feathers  of  the  disc  on  the  neck  tipped  with  white; 
eye  nearly  encircled  by  a  black  spot;  radiating  feathers  around  the  eye,  with  regular 
transverse  narrow  bars  of  dark-brown  and  ashy-white;  bill  pale-yellow;  claws  pale 
yellowish-white,  darker  at  their  tips ;  iris  bright-yellow. 

Total  length,  twenty-five  to  thirty  inches;  wing,  eighteen;  tail,  twelve  to  fifteen 
inches. 

This  bird  is  an  extremely  rare  winter  visitor  in  New  Eng- 
land ;  appearing  only  in  the  southern  districts  of  these 
States,  in  Massachusetts  even,  in  very  severe  seasons.  I 
never  saw  one  alive ;  have,  of  course,  never  seen  its  nest, 
and  can  add  nothing  at  all  to  our  knowledge  of  its  habits. 
It  breeds  in  the  most  northern  regions ;  and,  according  to 
Dr.  Brewer,  "  nests  in  high  trees."  Its  eggs  I  have  never 
seen.  Audubon  gives  the  following  account  of  this  spe- 
cies :  — 

"The  comparatively  small  size  of  this  bird's  eyes  rentiers  it 
probable  that  it  hunts  by  day ;  and  the  remarkable  smallness  of  its 
feet  and  claws  induces  me  to  think  that  it  does  not  prey  on  large 
animals.  Dr.  Richardson  says,  that  '  it  is  by  no  means  a  rare  bird 
in  the  fur  countries ;  being  an  inhabitant  of  all  the  woody  districts 
lying  between  the  Lake  Superior  and  latitudes  67°  or  68°,  and 
between  Hudson's  Bay  and  the  Pacific.  It  is  common  on  the 
borders  of  Great  Bear  Lake ;  and  there,  and  in  the  higher  parallels 
of  latitude,  it  i  mst  pursue  its  prey,  during  the  summer  months,  by 
daylight.  It  keeps,  however,  within  the  woods,  and  does  not  fre- 
quent the  barren  grounds,  like  the  Snowy  Owl;  nor  is  it  so  often  met 


1 


I 


11.) 


lill'i 


ii 


i 


^^B 

f 

U  ii.1 

l^^l 

km 

H 

f 

■ 

''B 

■i 

l^'- 

■ 

£  R  ;M 

H||. 

^M 

■1 

^l..J 

Bauked  Owr,,  Synimm  nehulosum.     Gray, 


l^;;;I 


tltii>, 


".'h  it'll  11 
liililvoii 


?TEKIi- 


liulu-Wlli: 


I. I     ■ 


UfiUlliV 


inmon  in  most 

■'  ■■      u    ■•  .-n  in  the  uiun;  ^ 
Mtcntly  ixiet  \v::li  In  ,....(■ ;,.,,.. 

•  hody  givii,     . 

'•  '   '  iight  as  in    . 

■■>.•■  ui   ■'M.r.t  ui'  our  (jiiicr  owis. 
i^"  f<.r  a  n^w  weeks,  oftou,  in  the  iiuniuic, ... 
v,-liidi  his  eap:;  wa.^  K'-v.-i .]  •  1m'    '■-ii 


3  tiight  is 
iiul 


'I 


THE   nvriRRD  OWL. 


78 


h  H,  I,roa.I  .layl,«ht  «s  tl.o  Hawk  Owl,  but  hunts  princinallv  vvl.nn 
of  tl  „  woods  arc  «le..,>Iy  sl.a.low...!,  that  .ho  Ameriran  Hare  a,  1    M 

Audubon  Hpoaks  of  a  scntlonmn  in  Salom,  Mass  wlm 
kop  one  of  tl.^0  l.inls  alive  lor  HcvenU  montl^:  Uw^s^d 
"n  f.sh  and  sn.all  hirds,  of  whicl,  it  was  very  ibnd.  It  rood 
H  .n.s  a  tronndons  ory,  not  unliko  that  o/tho  little  Co  ' 
o.H6aoj.s  ano),  and  showed  a  great  antipathy  to  cats  and 

SYBNIDM  NEBULOSUM.-C,v,y. 
The  Barred  Owl. 

T,      ,   ,  I^KSCHIITION. 

^.w;;V";]:s.rr  ::^;;:':,:';::r"-  -^^^^  ^-^^  '-^^  -"-^-". 

tarsi  and  ....s  a.l,v-wl,it..  ,  n '  ,        J  '    "  ,'  ''"■^"""<"""  •'fip..s  of  bn.wn , 

;-'^" '  - ^'^''i "  iu!':;;;;.;;;  ;:sr :  '^r '""  ^"'"' '""  '^^'""-•^^ 

'.•...,  nearly  pnro-white  o„  ,h«  onU-r  Ju.       ,     I    1 1         ""^  T  '"''"'  '■"""^^'^^'•-''^ 
li«l>t-l.nnvn,  with  „.,ont  fiv  ban.il  of  w],        "'''•"-  f'"."^  ""  "'«  "'""  w.l..,  tail 

or  -.lack  in  front 'of  ,„e       s         -iul  k  l:''.''i  ""';  ''"'^  "•■  "^""•"'  """  «  '^P"' 
iridos  l.lui,.i,.|,la..k.    Hev;,  i.lillo      '^"'^-^'°'"' '  ^■'""■«  ''om-color;  bill  pale-yellow  j 

SeJ::;.^,;:^?-;'!:::::: '-'-'  ^in,,  thirteen  to  A,„rteen;  tai..  „i„e  i„ehes. 

This  Owl  is  rather  common  in  most  sections  of  New  Enjr- 
lo^d      s  more  oft.n  seen  in  the  more  southern  loclli^^ 
^nd  le  s  frequently  met  with  in  sections  where  the  r  w 
Horned  Owl  is  most  abundant,  and  .loe  .  J     It    fli^  " 

v\lu       T     !  ^^  ^'"'"^  '*  remarkable  speed      Its 

loom  m  which  his  cage  was  placed:  he  alighted  with 


i    h 


'4 

1  : 

m  - 


Fill 


3  k. 


\^ii 


74 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


ease  on  the  backs  of  chairs,  or  oii  other  pieces  of  furnituro ; 
seldom  miscalcnlating  the  dista:ice  or  missing  a  footing,  as 
many  of  the  other  owls  would  in  the  same  circumstances. 
Tiiis  bird  soon  became  tame,  and  would  accept  food  at  almost 
any  time  in  the  day  or  night:  on  receiving  a  piece  of  meat, 
he  sometimes  attempted  +o  clutch  it  with  his  foot,  and  my 
fingers  often  had  narrow  escapes  from  his  sharp,  crooked 
talons.  Usually,  he  would  seize  it  with  his  mouth,  and,  if 
not  too  large,  swallow  it  without  tearing :  if  the  piece  was 
more  bidky  than  he  could  manage,  he  stood  on  it,  and  tore 
it  with  his  beak.  Fisli  hj  invariably  rejected,  but  greedily 
ate  mice  and  small  birds :  a  dead  pigeon,  that  I  put  in  his 
cage,  was  untouched  for  several  days.  He  died  in  conse- 
quence of  a  hurt  he  received  in  flying  against  a  window. 

The  Barred  Owl  subsists  principally  upon  small  birds, 
field-mice,  and  reptiles.  He  is  frequently  seeri,  in  early 
twilight,  flying  over  the  low  meadow  lands,  searching  for  the 
mice  that  dwell  there :  he  usually  takes  a  direct  course,  and 
sometimes  flies  so  low  that  the  tips  of  his  wings  seem  to 
touch  the  grass.  W.hen  lie  discovers  his  prey,  he  drops  on 
it  instantly,  folding  his  wings  and  protruding  his  feet,  in 
which  his  quarry  is  always  secured :  he  often  captures  frogs 
that  are  sitting  on  th.j  shores  of  ponds  and  rivers  ;  but  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  the  statement,  quoted  by  Audubon, 
that  he  often  catches  fish,  is  incorrect.  The  Barred  Ovv^l 
usually  nests  in  high  trees,  placing  the  structure  of  sticks 
and  leaves  in  a  crotch  near  the  trunk.  The  eggs  are  usually 
three  n  number.  I  have  one  only  in  my  collection :  this  is 
pure-white,  almost  globular,  and,  except  in  shape,  ha -dly 
distinguishable  from  the  egg  of  the  domestic  hen.  It  is 
2  inches  hi  length  by  1.68  in  brerdtli. 

NICTALE,  Brehm. 

Nyctale,  Brehm,  Isis  (1828),  1271. 

Size  small;  head  with  very  small  enr-tufts,  only  observable  when  erected;  eyes 
small;  bill  moderate,  or  not  very  strong;  facial  disc  nearly  perfect;  v/inga  rather 
long;  tail  short;  legs  and  toes  densely  feathered. 


:^'^'.::.''\'r 


^''^■'."A 


THE   SAW-WHET   OWL. 


75 


Contains  five  species  of  small  and  quite  peculiar  owls,  fo'^r  of  which  are  Amen- 
can,  and  one  European. 

NYCTALE  RlCEARDSOmi.  — Bonaparte. 
The  Sparrow   Owl. 

Nyclale  Richauhonii,  Bonr.parte.    Comp.  List,  1  (1838). 

"  Strix  Ttmjmalmi,  Gm."    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  559,  and  other  American  authors. 

Description. 

The  largest  of  this  genus;  wings  long;  upper  parts  pale  reddish-brown,  tinged 
with  o'lve,  and  with  partially  concealed  spots  of  white,  most  numerous  on  tiie  head 
and  neck  behind,  scapulars,  and  rump;  head  in  front  with  numerous  spots  of  white- 
face  white,  with  a  spot  of  black  in  front  of  the  eye;  throat  with  brown  stripes;' 
under  parts  ashy-white,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  pale  reddish-brown;  legs  and 
toes  pale-yellowish,  nearly  white,  sometimes  barred  and  spotted  with  brown;  quills 
brown,  with  small  spots  of  white  on  their  outer  edges,  and  li.rge  spots  of  the  same 
on  their  inner  webs;  tail  brown,  every  feather  with  about  ten  pairs  of  white  spots; 
bill  light-j'cllowish  horn-color;  irides  yellow. 

Total  length,  about  ten  and  a  half  inches;  wing,  seven  and  a  half  inches;  tail 
four  a^fi  a  half  inches.  ' 

This  species  is  an  exceedingly  rare  winter  visitor  in  New 
England.  I  have  never  met  with  it  alive,  and  can  give 
from  my  own  observation  no  account  of  its  habits.  Dr. 
Richardson,  in  the  "  Fauna  Boreali-Americana,"  says :  — 

"  ^Vhen  it  accidentally  wanders  abroad  in  the  day,  it  is  so  much 
dazzled  by  the  light  of  the  sun  as  to  become  stupid ;  and  it  may 
then  be  easily  cauglit  by  the  hand.  Its  cry  in  the  night  is  a 
single  melancholy  note,  repeated  at  intervals  of  a  minute  or  two. 
Mr.  Hutchins  says  that  it  builds  a  nest  of  grass  half-way  up  a 
pine-tree,  and  lays  two  white  eggs  in  the  month  of  May." 

NYCTALE  kCkmCk.  — Bonaparte. 
The  Saw-Whet  Owl;  Acadican  Owl. 

fitrix  Acadica,  Gm.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  296  (1788).    Bonap.  Syn.,  38.    Nuttall  and 
other  authors. 

"  Strix passerina,  Linnoeus."    Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  IV.  66. 

Description. 

Small;  wings  long;  tail  short;  upper  parts  reddish-brown,  tinged  with  olive- 

head  m  front  with  fine  lines  of  white,  and  on  the  neck  behind,  rump,  and  scapulars' 

with  large,  partially  concealed  spots  of  white;  face  ashy-white;  throat  white;  under 

parts  ashy-white,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  pale  reddish-brown;  under  coverts 


76 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


J   ' 


t   I 


of  wings  and  tail  white;  quills  brown,  with  small  npots  of  white  on  their  outer 
edges,  and  large  spots  of  the  same  on  tlieir  inner  webs;  tail  brown,  every  feather 
witli  about  three  pairs  of  spots  of  white;  bill  and  claws  dark;  irides  yellow. 

Total  length,  about  seven  and  a  half  to  eight  inches;  wing,  five  and  a  half 
inches;  tail,  two  and  three  quarters  to  three  inclies.  Sexes  nearly  the  same  size, 
and  alike  in  colors. 

This  species  is  also  quite  rare  in  New  England ;  but,  as 
it  is  occasionally  found  in  the  summer  months,  is  probably 
a  resident  hero  through  the  year.  Says  Audubon,  in  his 
description  of  this  bird,  which  is  very  full  and  perfect :  — 

"  The  Little  Owl  is  known  in  Massachusetts  by  the  name  of  the 
'  Saw-whet,'  the  sound  of  its  love-notes  bearing  a  great  resemblance 
to  the  noise  produced  by  filing  the  teeth  of  a  large  saw.  These 
notes,  when  coming,  as  they  frequently  do,  fVom  the  interior  of  a 
deep  forest,  produce  a  very  peculiar  ofFect  on  the  traveller,  who, 
not  being  aware  of  their  real  nature,  expects,  as  he  advances  on  his 
route,  to  meet  with  shelter  imder  a  saw-mill  at  no  great  distance. 
Until  I  shot  the  bird  in  the  act,  I  had  myself  been  more  than  once 
deceived  in  this  manner. 

"  A  nest  of  our  Little  Owl,  which  I  found  near  the  city  of  Natchez, 
was  placed  in  the  broken  stump  of  a  small  decayed  tree,  not  more 
than  four  feet  from  the  ground.  I  was  attracted  to  it  by  the  snor- 
in"'  notes  of  the  young,  which  sounded  as  if  at  a  considerable 
elevation ;  and  I  was  so  misled  by  them,  that,  had  not  n.y  dog 
raised  himself  to  smell  at  the  hole  where  die  brood  lay  concealed, 
I  might  not  have  discovered  them.  In  diis  instance,  the  number 
was  five.  It  was  in  the  beginning  of  June ;  and  the  little  things, 
which  were  almost  ready  to  fly,  looked  exceedingly  neat  and  beaud- 
ful.  Their  parents  I  never  saw,  abhough  I  frequently  visited  the 
nest  before  diey  left  it.  The  LitUe  Owl  breeds  more  abundandy 
near  die  shores  of  die  Adantic  than  in  the  interior  of  the  country, 
and  is  frequent  in  ilie  swamps  of  die  States  of  Maryland  and  New 
Jersey  during  the  whole  year.  Wherever  I  have  found  the  young 
or  die  eggs  placed  in  a  hollow  tree,  diey  were  merely  deposited  on 
the  rotten  particles  of  wood ;  and,  when  in  an  old  crow's  nest,  die 
latter  did  not  appear  to  have  undergone  any  repair.  Being  quite 
nocturnal,  it  shows  great  uneasiness  when  disturbed  by  day,  and 
flies  off  in  a  hurried,  uncertain  manner,  throwing  itself  into  the 


THE  SNOWY   OWL. 


77 


first  covert  that  it  meets  with,  where  it  is  not  difficult  to  catch  it, 
provided  the  necessary  caution  and  silence  be  used.  Towards 
dusk,  it  becomes  full  of  animation,  flies  swiftly  —  gliding,  as  it 
were  —  over  the  low  grounds  like  a  little  spectre,  and  pounces  on 
small  quadrupeds  and  birds  with  the  quickness  of  thought." 

The  Saw-whet  Owl  nests  in  hollow  trees,  in  cavities  of 
rocks,  and  in  deserted  crows'  and  woodpeckers'  nests.  The 
eggs  are  from  three  to  five  or  six  in  number ;  and,  according 
to  Dr.  Brewer,  are  of  a  bright,  clear  white,  and  more  like  a 
woodpecker's  than  an  owl's  in  their  crystalline  clearness. 
Dimensions,  1^2^  by  {^  inch. 


Sub-Family  Nycteinin^.  —  ITie  Day  Owls. 

General  fomi  compact  and  robust;  head  moderate,  without  car-tufts;  wings  and 
tail  rather  long;  tarsi  strong,  which,  with  the  toes,  are  more  densely  covered  than 
in  any  other  division  of  this  family. 

Tliis  division  embraces  two  species  only,  which  inhabit  the  arctic  regions  of  both 
continents ;  migrating  southward  in  the  winter. 

NYCTEA,  Stephens. 

Nyctea,  Stephens,  Cont.  of  Shaw's  Zool.,  XIII.  62  (1826). 

Large;  head  rather  large,  without  ear-tufts;  no  fijcial  disc;  legs  rather  short,  and 
witli  tlic  toes  covered  densely  witii  long  hair-lilve  feathers,  nearly  concealing  the 
claws;  bill  short,  nearly  concealed  by  projecting  feathers,  very  strong;  wings  long; 
tail  moderate,  or  rather  long,  wide;  claws  strong,  fully  curved.  Contains  one  spe- 
cies only. 


NYCTEA  NIVEA.  —  G 
The  Snowy  Owl. 


ray. 


Strix  vh-ea,  Dandin.    Traite  d'Orn.,  190  (ISOO). 
Strix  nycttn,  Linnoeus.    Syst.  Nat.  I.  132  (1766). 

"  Stvix  vyctea,  Linmeus."  Bonap.  Syn.,  36.  Nutt.  I.  116.  And.  II.  135.  Wil- 
son and  others. 

PESCniPTION. 

Bill  nearly  concealed  by  projecting  plumes;  eyes  large;  entire  plumage  white,  fre- 
quently with  a  few  spots  or  imperfect  bands,  only  on  the  upjier  parts  dark-bi-own,  and 
on  tiie  under  parts  with  a  few  irregular  and  imperfect  bars  of  the  same;  quills  and 
tail  with  a  few  spots  or  traces  of  bands  of  the  same  dark-brown;  the  prevalence  of 


H| 


78 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


';.-; 


the  dark-brown  color  varies  much  in  diflFerent  specimens ;  frequently  both  upper  and 
under  parts  are  very  distinctly  banded  transversely,  and  sometimes  this  color  pre- 
dominates on  tlie  buck;  plumage  of  the  legs  and  toes  pure  snowy-white;  bill  and 
claws  horn-color;  irides  yellow. 

Total  length,  female,  about  twenty-six  inches;  wing,  seventeen  to  nineteen; 
tail,  ten  inches.    Male,  about  twenty-two  inches ;  wing,  seventeen ;  tail,  nine  inches. 

As  a  winter  visitor,  principally  on  the  seacoast,  this  bird 
is  a  rather  common  species.  It  is  often  taken  on  the  islands 
in  Massachusetts  Bay,  where  it  feeds  on  fish  that  have  been 
thrown  up  on  the  shore  by  the  tide,  birds,  wounded  sea- 
fowl,  and  even  dead  animals,  as  I  am  informed  by  a  reliable 
person  who  once  shot  one  while  perched  on  and  eating 
a  dead  horse  on  the  beach.  The  flight  of  this  Owl  is  rapid 
and  protracted.  I  have  seen  an  individual  chase  and  cai> 
ture  a  Snow  Bunting  (P.  nivalis)  from  a  flock;  and  once 
saw  one  make  a  swoop  at  a  flock  of  poultry  which  had  come 
out  from  their  house  on  a  fine  day,  but  which  immediately 
retreated  on  the  appearance  of  their  enemy.  The  Snowy 
Owl  hunts  both  in  the  daylight  and  twilight:  he  seems  to 
prefer  cloudy,  gloomy  days  to  bright  ones,  and  is  most 
active  just  before  a  storm.  Audubon  says  that  this  Owl 
captures  living  fish  in  the  water  by  standing  quietly  by  the 
margin,  and  seizing  its  prey  with  its  claws,  as  it  ajjpears 
near  the  surface :  whether  this  is  a  regular  habit  or  not,  I 
cannot  say.  I  never  saw  one  do  so ;  and  I  have  conversed 
with  several  hunters  who  have  shot  numbers  of  specimens, 
and  they  all  were  ignorant  of  such  a  fact. 

Of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  Owl,  we  are  ignorant. 
The  Hudson's  Bay,  and  other  northern  countries,  are  its 
summer  homos.  Wheelwright,  in  his  "  Spring  and  Sum- 
mer in  Lapland,"  gives  the  only  description  of  its  nest  and 
eggs  accessible  to  me  at  present.     He  says :  — 

"  The  egg  of  the  Snowy  Owl  measures  2J  inches  in  length,  and 
1|  inches  in  breadth:  its  color  is  pure-white.  The  nest  is  nothing 
more  than  a  large  boll  of  reindeer  moss,  placed  on  the  ledge  of  a 
bare  fell.  The  old  birds  guard  it  most  jealously  ;  in  fact,  the  Lap- 
landers often  kill   them  with  a  stick  when  they  are  robbing  the 


%. 


:^^.. 


'■^.-.^ 


;?    '^  <S*  . 


r*-^^     # 


i 


<t 


y  ^ 


I 


'  M  If 


/ 


'*   .■.-■)■ 


■-;Tr^^ 


p'  *-,:?:£# 


^''g 


,'craii(l 


;lii,>}  bird 
:i  the  IsUuhIs 


.Uuig 

:ii\ni\ 

•md  caji- 

'. ;  uad  oiu''!> 

■■.  iiich  Itsid  «'Oii\!" 

• . ,  1,.,;.  „  iiivth  iniiia'di:iiv!j 

i!i"ir  I'p.cirv      The  Siirnw 

■   '•  laosL 

.ludiiUju  «uv«3  timt   tins  Owl 

i,ln:  (Vaicr  by  standing}:  <,'iaet!y  bv  the 

.Ls  prey  wjtii  i'St  <■!■  '•      :•>  it  a[j[)ears 

^■•t her  this  Js  a  r->"  it  or  uui;,  1 

•  nav.  isnr  di't  Mi; .  ■      invci'sed 

rs  wb(j  irit  nnutUoi-s  of  spticiuions, 

:ir-  :^l3cll  a   ft't;t. 

•  it    ti         '  ■;■   igiiortint, 

■'        ..';.  i:iv  ill  uuuiitrieH,  iifo  itn 

'\i...    .  •  bia  "■  .Sprintr  and  Sum- 

i''''''-s  fi.  fiuti'Mi  of  U^  !it:*st  and 

Uu  Si., 

issniMlft'S  2|   il!'.!h(!S  ill  lt'l»f|;|}: 
-«hiU'.      'I 
-  ,  piactd  v<ii  tliu  iwigu    .1  a 
•  .«!  '•  ..     .j    ilously;  in  fimt,  the  Lap- 
's a  ;u.''  *'. hi;!i  they  art;  robbinrr  '' ■.: 


*^E3« 


s 


! 


THE   HAWK  OWL. 


70 


nest,  which  they  do  upon  every  occasion  that  presents  itself.  The 
Snowy  Owl  will  occiislunally  make  its  nest  on  the  large  turf-hillocks 
in  some  of  the  mosses. 

8URNIA,  DuMERiL 

SuT^in,  DuMEKiL,  Zoologie  Analytique,  34  (1806). 

General  form  riitlier  lon}^,  but  robust;  size  nie<liuin;  head  moderate,  without  ear- 
tufts:  fac'lal  disc  obsolete;  bill  moderate,  curved  from  the  base,  covered  with  pro- 
jecting plumes;  wings  long;  tail  long,  wide,  graduated;  legs  rather  short,  and  with 
the  toes  densely  feathered;  contains  one  species  only,  which  inhabits  the  arctic 
regions  of  both  contiuents. 

SUHNIA  ULULA.  —  Bmaparte. 
The  Hawk  Owl;  Day  Owl. 

Strix  ulula,  Linnaeus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  133  (1700). 

"  Strix  funerea,"  Gra.  Bonap.  Syn.  25.  Nutt.,  L  115.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog., 
IV.  550. 

"  Strix  Iludsonica."    Wilson,  VL  64. 

Desckiption. 

Wings  rather  long;  first  three  quills  incised  on  their  inner  webs;  tail  long,  with 
its  central  feathers  about  two  inches  longer  than  the  outer ;  tarsi  i....d  toes  densely 
feathered;  upper  parts  fuliginous-brown,  with  numerous  partially  concealed  circular 
spots  of  white  on  the  neck  behind,  scapulars  and  wing  coverts;  face  grayish-white; 
tliroat  white,  with  longitudinal  stripes  of  dark-brown;  a  large  brown  spot  on  each 
side  of  the  breast;  other  under  parts  with  transverse  lines  or  strijies  of  jjale  ashy- 
brown;  quills  and  tail  brown,  with  transverse  bands  of  white;  bill  pale-yellowish; 
irides  yellow ;  color  of  upper  parts  darker  on  the  head,  and  the  white  markings 
more  or  less  numerous  in  difl'erent  specimens. 

Total  length,  female,  sixteen  to  seventeen  inches;  wing,  nine;  tail,  seven  inches. 
Male  rather  smaller. 

This  bird  is  occasionally  met  with  in  different  localities  in 
New  England ;  rarely  in  the  summer,  most  often  in  the 
winter.  As  its  name  implies,  it  is  diurnal  in  its  habits, 
aud  hunts  its  prey  in  the  hours  when  most  of  the  other 
owls  are  hidden  in  their  retreats.  Its  food  consists  of  small 
birds  and  mice,  which  it  seizes  in  the  manner  of  the  hawks. 
A  specimen  Avas  obtained  in  Vermont  on  a  wood-pile  in  a 
door-yard,  where  it  was  eating  a  Avoodpecker  that  it  had 
just  captured.  Dr.  Richardson,  in  his  "  Fauna  Boreali- 
Americana,"  says  that,  "  when  the  hunters  arc  shooting 
grouse,  this  bird  is  occasionally  attracted  by  the  report  of 


1  , 


*i] 


t'l 


80 


OUNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


the  gun,  and  is  often  bold  cnouji,^li,  on  a  bird  being  killud, 
to  pounce  down  upon  it,  though  unable,  from  its  size,  to 
carry  it  olF. 

TIjo  Ifinvk  Owl   occasionally  breeds   in   New  P]uglund. 

]\Iy  friend,  George  A.  Boardnian 
of  Alilltown,  Me.,  has  been  so  for- 
tunate as  to  (iiul  its  nest,  with 
eggs,  in  that  neighborhood.  It 
usually  builds  in  a  hollow  tree, 
but  sometimes  constructs  a  liabi- 
tation  in  the  crotch  of  a  tall  tree, 
of  sticks,  grass,  and  feathers. 
According  to  Richardson,  it  lays 
two  white  globular  eggs. 

Two  beautiful  specimens  in  my 
collection,  from  William  Couper, 
Esq.,  Quebec,  collected  at  North- 
ern Labrador  by  the  JMontanaz 
Indians,  are  a  trifle  more  elongated  and  pointed  than  tho 
eggs  of  the  lied  Owl  (Soojjs  asio).  Tlicy  are  of  a  j)ure- 
white  color,  and  measure  1.50  by  1.25  inch  and  1.47  by 
1.22  inch. 


N  O  T  E  S. 

I  append  tho  following  notes,  that  have  been  kindly  fur- 
nished mo  by  William  Coui)er,  of  Que])ec,  Lower  Canada, 
for  the  purpose  of  showing  the  northern  distribution  of  tho 
birds  of  prey  described  in  tho  preceding  pages :  — 

HYPOTEIOECHIS  COLUMBARIUS.  —  Only  youns  specimens  occur,  and 
tliose  rarely,  in  the  latitude  of  Quebec :  they  are  more  common  toward  the 
western  portions  of  Lower  and  Upper  Canada.  It  has  not,  to  my  knowledge, 
been  found  breeding  in  Canada. 

TINNUNCULUS  SPARVEEIUS.  —  This  species  is  more  abundant  than  tho 
preceding;  but  the  majority  of  the  specimens  shot  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Quebec  are  young.  I  am  informed  that  it  breeds  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  river 
St.  Maurice,  wliich  falls  into  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  west  of  Quebec. 


w  - 

\  ml  I 


^!iii 


NOTES. 


81 


ASTUE  ATRICAPILLD3.-The  n.h.It  of  this  spocios  is  very  rare  in  this 
latitu.l..,  and  it  occurs  in  tliis  pluinaKf  "bout  ..li.lwinlur.  Tl.o  young,  how- 
ever,  uro  sornutinies  coiumon  during  tlio  uutuuin. 

ACCIPITER  FnSCUS.-TI,is  is  one  of  tl.o  most  common  of  our  llawl<« 
It  occurs  n,  young  piun.age  in  tl.o  fall  also.  I  „,„  ,„|,i  ,|,at  it  I.rocls  in 
Canada;  but  Iluive  not  luui  the  good  fortune  to  find  its  nest.  Sportsmen 
Imve  told  mo  incLIcnts  of  the  audacity  of  this  little  species.  Thoy  say  it  is 
always  on  tl.e  alert  for  woodcock  an.l  snipe,  and  l<nows  the  n.oment  that  one 
o  these  birds  is  wounde.l.  It  is  sometimes  so  boM,  that.  a.  soon  as  tl.3  shot 
strikes  the  intended  game,  tlie  Hawk  pounces  u,.un  it  to  carry  it  away. 

BUTEO  PENNSYLVANICOS.-This  species  is  very  common  here  durin-^ 
the  months  ot  September  and  October.  It  is  generally  found  preying  npon 
frogs  and  a  spec.es  of  common  fluid  locust.  I  have  not  learned  that  it  breeds 
in  Upper  or  Lower  Canada. 

AECHIBUTEO  LAGOPUS.-Sometin.es  this  species  i.,  very  abundant  in 
the  northern  n.ounta.ns.  especially  where  there  is  a  plenty  of  hares  and 
grouse.     It  breeds  in  Labrador. 

CIRCUS  HUDSONIUS- Occurs  only  in  the  fall,  and  then  in  young  plum- 
age.  U.-eeds  .„  Western  Canada.  It  has  not  been  detected  b.-eeding  il.  the 
northern  swamps  of  Lower  Canada. 

AQUILA  CANADENSIS. -The  adult  and  young  of  this  species  are  occa- 
sionally shot  here  during  autumn  and  winter.  I  think  it  bree.ls  on  some  of 
our  h.gh  northern  mountains.  Tl.e  spech.iens  that  I  have  examined  had 
their  bodies  and  legs  stuck  full  of  porcupine  quills. 

PANDION  CAROLINENSIS.-Tliis  is  a  very  rare  visitor  in  the  northern 
regions.  I  un.lerstand  that  a  pair  arrive  ann..ally,  and  breed  at  Lake  St. 
Joseph,  north  of  this  c.ty.    I  never  saw  an  adult  specimen  in  Quebec. 

BUBO  VIRGINIANUS.-This  Owl  occurs  here  during  summer  and  win- 
er  I  am  almost  certain  it  bree.ls  in  tlie  mountains  behind  the  city.  I  have 
ha,l  the  yo..„g  i„  the  down  from  Bay  St.  Taiil,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
nver  St.  Lawrence,  below  Quebec. 

OTUS  WILSCNIANUS  and  BRACHYOTUS  CASSINII  are  extremely  rare 
here,  and  I  cannot  -ive  any  facts  in  relation  to  them. 

SYHNIUM  NEBULOSUM.  -Tliis  is  the  common  Owl  of  our  forests. 
SYRNIUM  CINEREUM.-IS  an  accidental  winter  visitor. 
SURNIA  ULULA.  -This  bir.l  is  also  very  connnon  during  some  winters. 
It  breeds  m  tlie  northern  portions  of  Hudson's  Bay  and  Labrador. 

NYCTEA  NIVEA.  -  This  Owl  is  more  abundant  this  winter  (I8G7)  than  it 
has  been  tor  years.  ' 

NrCTALE  EICHARDSONII  and  N.ACADICA  also  occur  here.  The  former 
IS  occasional;   but  the  latter,  extremely  rare. 

6 


82 


ORNITIIOLOOY    AND   OOLOOV. 


'  1 


ORDER  II.  — SCANSORES.    Climdrrs. 

Tho  characteristics  of  this  order  arc  S'v*'"  o"  l'"SO  4  of  this 
volume.  It  is  represcntc*!  ii.  the  New-Kn-land  States  by  two 
families,  — tho  Cucululee  or   Cuckoos,  and   the  Fieidcv  or  Wood- 

Theso  families  have  the  arranj^cinent  of  two  pairs  of  toes 
opposed  to  each  other  in  common ;  otherwise,  they  are  much  dif- 
ferent in  their  characteristics. 

The  CucnlidcB  have  "  bill  thin,  usually  slender,  and  rather  long, 
the  tip  more  or  less  decurvcd,  llu^  base  usually  without  rictal 
bristles ;  tarsi  usually  rather  long,  clothed  with  broad  plates  ante- 
riorly ;   the  tail  feathers  usually  ten,  sometimes  eight  or  twelve, 

all  long." 

The  Picid(B  have  "  bill  straight,  rigid,  and  chisel-shaped  at  tho 
tip,  the  base  without  rictal  bristles  ;  the  feet  are  stout,  and  clothed 
anteriorly  with  broad  plates  ;  tail  feathers  twelve,  the  exterior  very 
small  and  concealed."  ^ 

1  See  Introduction. 


li 


% 


THE    YKLLOW-UILLED   CUCKOO. 


88 


F.vMiiY  CUCIJrjD;r:.    Thk  Cuckoos. 

COCCY(JUS,  ViEiLLoT. 

Cncn/ziit,  VIoillot.    ArmlvMo  (INld). 

/■.'n/lliro/iliri/f,  Swniii^dii.     CIhsis.  Hinls,  I[.  (tf.lT),  ,322. 

Ilfml  witlmut  .^1..^  H.utliurH  »l.„ut  l.usc  ..C  bill  m'.II;  bill  nonrlv  ni.  Innff  a«  (he 
i.MUJ,  ,l,..um.(l,  HlriMliT.  niul  ntt..rHmti..l  towanU  tlu>  cinl;  MuHtrils  li„.,,r;  wiriK^ 
.•nKtlinu..!,  „.,ul.iM.;  tli,  i„i  bll,.  „(  Ih.  lull;  the  I.tIIuI.  «l,ort;  tail  of  tun  Kru-luuto.l 
(fiitli.THj  loci  weak:  tarm  sliortor  tliari  llii'  iiiiddl.^  toe. 

The  H|Hvi,.s  .,!•  (  ,„v,/,/,M  an.  rradily  .lisliiiK„isli,.,l  from  those  of  C.tococryx  by 
thou  uvborial  habltH,  nmllnhiK  th..|...s..KTH  mainly  to  Iret-s,  instoad  of  livii.K  Imbitu- 
ally  nn  iho  ground.     Th«  pliimaKt)  ix  m\\  llru-,  and  compact. 

The  Amcri<  an  cu.koos  didVr  from  th.^  Ki.ropcan  cmkoos  { Cnmhu)  by  having 
IcuKthcncd  inikcd  tarsi,  in.fad  of  very  «hort  feathered  ouuhj  the  nostrils  are 
elongated,  too,  instead  of  ronndcd. 


COCCrOUS  AMERICANUS.  -  Ronnparte. 
The  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo. 


Ciiciilm  AmeriranuB,  MnniPiis.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700). 
Cocri/:ii.i  Ann  rii-diiim,  Andnbon.     Orn.  Hioj,'.,  I.  (1832). 
Cuculus  Caivlincims.     Wilson,  2(17. 


Honnp.  Syn.,  42. 


I>i:sf'iiiPTir>s. 

Upper  mandible,  and  ti|)  of  lower  bla.k;  rest  of  lower  mandible,  and  c.ittinff 
pdKes  ot  the  upper  yellow;  upper  parts  of  a  metallic  Krecnish-olivc,  sli^'btlv  tin. 'cd 
with  ash  towards  the  bill;  bcn..ath  whi,,.;  tail  feathers  (..xccpt  the  n.cdian,  wideh 
are  like  the  back)  black,  tipped  with  white  for  ab(,nt  an  inch  on  the  outer  (eatherx 
t  U!  external  one  with  the  outer  cl^c  ahnost  entirely  white;  quills  orange-cinnamon;' 
the  ternnnal  portion  and  a  kIoss  on  the  out.r  webs  olive;  iris  brown. 

I-euKth,  twelve  inches;  wing,  fivo  and  ninety-live  one-hundredthsj  tail,  six  and 
tinrty-tivc  onc-hundredtha. 

rpiTIS  bird  is  very  irregularly  di.stribiitea  tlirotifrh  New 
A  England  as  a  sunnner  visitor.  A.  E.  Verrill,  in  his 
calal(-uo  of  birds  found  at  Norway,  Mc.,  says  that  "it 
is  not  common  as  a  stimmer  visitor."  George  A.  Board- 
mau  writes  me,  that,  n(>ar  Calais,  :^[o.,  it  i.s""  extremely 
rare."  J.  A.  Allen,  in  his  piipcr  on  Springfield  birds 
(before  referred  to),  calls  it  "  extremely  rare."  Dr.  Wood 
says  it  is  "  very  rare  "  at  East-Windsor  Hill,  Coim.,  whore 


■  ..•  „>«-/ 


84 


OHNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


1 


i: 


he  has  found  it  brecduig.  While  1  have  noticed,  that, 
thougli  In  form  r  years  it  was  equally  abundant  with  the 
Black-billed  Ciickco,  tins  bird  is  now  growing  scarce  iu  the 
neighborhood  of  Boston. 

This  species  arrives  from  the  South  from  about  the  25th 
of  A])ril  to  the  1st  of  May.  We  are  first  notified  of  his 
arrival  by  hearing  his  harsh  notes  in  the  opening  foliage  ; 
and  presently  wo  sec  him  moving  about  the  twigs,  busily 
picking  off  and  swallowing  the  caterpillars  and  other  larvtc 
which  arc  so  doUructivc  to  our  fruit  tmd  shade  trees.  Soon 
he  passes  to  another  tree,  still  pursuing  his  profitable 
search ;  and,  when  he  has  gleaned  to  his  heart's  —  or 
rather  stomach's  —  content,  he  launches  himself  into  the 
air,  and  takes  flight  for  another  grove  or  orchard,  perhaps 
a  half-mile  oiT,  or  even  farther.  His  flight  is  rapid,  con- 
sisting of  repeated  strokes  of  his  wings,  but  it  is  not 
ahvays  direct ;  for  he  frequently  turns  from  a  straight  course 
and  flies  off  at  an  angle,  then  back  again  iu  a  wavering 
manner.  Occasionally,  he  pauses  in  his  flight,  and  sud- 
denly descends  and  alights  on  a  shrub  or  low  bush,  as  if  he 
perceived  an  enemy  in  the  air  or  a  friend  in  the  bush. 
After  repeating  his  song,  —  '■'■  Kroiv-kroiv-kroiv-krow-hrotv  ;  Jcru- 
kru,  kru-kru,  km-kru^'  —  he  is  off  again,  and  is  soon  out 
of  sight. 

The  male  arrives  about  ten  days  before  the  female.  As 
soon  as  the  latter  makes  her  appearance,  the  male  com- 
mences his  courtship.  He  is  very  attentive  to  her,  watch- 
ing her  every  movement,  and  following  her  every  flight. 
Although  usually  very  cowardly,  he  is  at  this  period  toler- 
ably brave,  and  will  even  attempt  to  molest  any  other  bird 
that  happens  to  be  near,  l)ut  usually  with  ])Oor  success  ;  for, 
as  his  cowardice  is  traditional  amoi\g  the  birds,  t'.iey  will 
turn  upon  him,  and  drive  him  otf  discomfited.  When  the 
couple  have  mated,  they  sodii  commence  building.  The 
nest  is  placed  in  a  low  bough  of  a  tree,  or  iu  a  shrub  or 
barberry  bush.     It  is  a  loose,  straggling  alTair,  composed  of 


THE   BLACK-BILLED   CUCKOO. 


85 


sticks  and  twigs,  and  sometimes  a  few  pieces  of  moss.  The 
eggs  are  usually  four  in  number ;  they  are  of  a  light 
greenish-blue  color,  and  almost  invariably  larger  than  those 
of  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo.  A  number  of  specimens  before 
me  vary  from  1.07  to  1.25  of  an  inch  in  length,  by  from  .84 
to  .96  inch  in  breadth.  But  one  brood  is  reared  in  the 
season. 

C0CC7GUS  EEYTHEOPHTHALMUS.  —  Bonaparte. 
Tie  Black-billed  Cuckoo. 

Cuculus  erythrophthalmus,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IV.  (1811),  16. 
Coccyzus  erythrophthalmus,  Audubon.      Orn.    Biog.,  I.  (1832),    170.     Bonap 
Syn.,  42. 

Description. 

Bill  entirely  black;  upper  parts  generally  of  a  metallic  greenish-olive,  ashy  to- 
wards the  base  of  the  lull;  beneath  pure-white,  with  a  brownish-yellow  tinge  on  the 
throat;  inner  webs  of  the  quills  tinged  with  tinnamon  ;  under  surface  of  all  the  tail 
feathers  hoary  ash-gray;  all  beneatli  the  central,  on  either  side,  sulliised  with  darker 
to  the  short,  bluish-white,  and  not  well-detined  tip;  a  naked  red  skin  round  the  eye; 
iris,  hazel. 1 

Length  about  twelve  inches;  wing,  five;  tail,  six  and  a  half. 

This  si)ecies  is  quite  abundantly  distributed  throughout 
New  England  as  a  summer  visitor,  reaching  to  more  north- 
ern latitudes  than  the  other.  It  arrives  from  the  South 
al)out  the  first  week  in  May; 
and,  like  the  Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo,  the  males  precede 
the  females.  I  have  exam- 
ined numbers  of  the  first 
birds  that  arrived  in  differ- 
ent seasons,  and  they  were 
invariably  males ;  the  females 
making  their  appearance 
about  ten  days  or  a  fortnight 
later.  The  habits  of  the  two 
species  are  very  similar,  altiiough  the  present  bird  prefers 
the  more  cultivated   and   open  districts,  while   the  other 

1  In  succeeding  species,  when  vlie  color  of  the  iris  is  not  given,  it  is  understood  to 
be  dark-lia/cl  or  bl.ick. 


'"'^m^^i-,  .■ 


II  ■ , ,. ., '  ^. . 


86 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


!  ■ 


ifil: 


r 
I  ■ 


li 


.  I; 


seems  to  delight  in  the  more  retired  and  wooded  locali- 
ties. 

In  flight,  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo  is  more  swift  than  the 
other ;  in  breeding  habits,  the  same  ;  and  its  food  is  similar, 
consisting  principally  of  insects  and  their  larvas,  small  fruits, 
and  the  eggs  and  young  of  small  birds.  Like  the  other,  the 
Black-billed  Cuckoo  is  very  cowardly,  and  is  oiiickly  driven 
from  the  neighborhood  of  the  nest  of  almost  any  of  the 
otlier  birds.  If  a  robin,  or  other  bird  of  equal  size,  discover 
one  of  these,  to  him  pirates,  in  the  vicinity  of  liis  nest,  he 
immediately  assaults  the  intruder,  with  loud  outcries,  poun- 
cing upon  him,  and  pecking  with  great  ferocity.  Others  of 
his  neighbors,  who  are  near,  join  in  the  attack :  the  Cuckoo, 
in  retreating,  dives  into  tiie  recesses  of  a  stone  wall,  or  the 
first  secure  retreat  available;  very  seldom  taking  to  his 
wings,  as  another  bird  would  do.  I  have  known  of  a  cuckoo 
being  driven  into  a  barn  by  a  Blue-bird  (aS'.  sialis'),  who  sat 
perching  on  a  fence  outside  for  several  minutes,  keeping  his 
enemy  prisoner ;  and  the  latter,  when  pursued  and  captured 
by  myself,  preferred  being  my  prisoner  to  facing  his  enemy 

outside. 

The  nest  of  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo  is  usually  placed  in 
a  low  tree  or  barberry-bush.  It  is  constructed  of  twigs, 
roots,  and  sometimes  a  few  leaves  and  moss.  I  have  exam- 
ined a  great  number  of  these,  from  different  sections  ;  and  I 
have  noticed  that  those  from  northern  localities  were  inva- 
riably lined  with  gray  moss,  called  Spanish  moss,  and  leaves, 
while  others,  from  more  southern  districts,  were  without 
such  linings. 

The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number :  they  are  of  a  darker 
grcenisir-blue  than  those  of  the  other  bird,  and  average  a 
little  smaller ;  their  length  varying  from  1  to  1.12  inch,  by 
from  .84  to  .02  inch  in  breadth. 

The  shell  of  these  eggs  is  always  quite  thin  and  fragile, 
much  more  so  than  that  of  the  others. 


THE  HAIRY   WOODPECKER.  87 


Family  PICIDiE.    The  Woodpeckers. 
Siib-Family  Picm^. 

Although  all  the  woodpeckers  have  a  certain  resemblance  to  each  other,  and 
agree  more  or  less  in  habits,  there  are  distinctions  siniong  them  wlijch  serve  readily 
for  division  into  sub-crenera,  genera,  or  even  higher  groups.  Thus,  the  difference 
between  the  Ivory-billed  Woodpecker  and  tlie  conmion  Flicker,  which  may  be  taken 
as  representing  the  extremes  of  the  scale  in  North-American  spec'cs,  will  be  palpable 
to  any  observer. 

In  the  woodpeckers  inhabiting  the  United  States,  there  are  three  distinct  groups, 
wliich  may  be  tnken,  with  some  authors,  as  so  many  sub-families;  or  if,  with  Bona- 
parte, wo  unite  all  the  ricidm  with  stiffened,  acuminate,  and  pointed  tails  into  a  sub- 
family Piciiiw,  they  will  constitute  so  many  separate  sections.  They  may  be  severally 
characterized  as  follows :  — 

PiciN.E  or  Picae.  —  Hm  more  or  less  long;  the  outlines  above  and  below  nearly 
straight;  the  ends  truncated;  a  prominent  ridge  on  the  side  of  tlie  mandible,  spring- 
ing from  the  middle  of  the  base  or  a  little  below,  and  running  out  either  on  the 
commissure,  or  extending  parallel  to  and  a  little  al)ove  it,  to  the  end;  sometimes 
obliterated  or  confluent  with  the  lateral  bevel  of  the  bill;  nostrils  considerably  over- 
hung by  the  lateral  ridge,  more  or  less  linear,  and  concealed  by  tliick  bushy  tufts  of 
feathers  at  the  base  of  the  bill;  outer  posterior  toe  generally  longer  than  the  anterior. 

MKLANKisriN.K  Or  Ceiiturc(B.  —  Ki]\  rather  long;  the  outlines,  that  of  the  culmen 
especially,  decidedly  curved.  The  lateral  ridge  mucii  nearest  the  culmen,  and, 
though  quite  distinct  at  the  base,  disappearing  before  coming  to  the  lower  edge  of 
the  mandible;  not  overhanging  the  nostrils,  which  are  broadly  oval,  rounded  an- 
teriorly, and  not  concealed  by  tlie  bristly  feathers  at  the  base;  outer  pair  of  toes 
nearly  equal,  the  anterior  rather  longer. 

CoLAi'TiN.K  or  Culnpf c(v.~\ii\l  much  depressed,  and  the  upper  outline  much 
curved  to  the  acutely  pointed  (not  truncate)  tip;  the  commissure  considerably 
curved;  bill  without  any  ridges;  the  nostrils  broadly  oval,  and  much  exposed; 
anterior  outer  toe  longest. 

PICUS   VILLOSUS.  — /.('nnn'Hs.l 
The  Hairy  Woodpecker. 

Plciis  villijsiis,  Liuna-us.     Syst.,  I.  175.    lionap.  Syn.,  46,  and  others. 

Dksckii'tion. 
"The  Hairy  Woodpecker  is  nine  inches  long  and  fifteen  in  extent;  crown 
black;  line  over  and  under  the  eye  white;  the  eye  is  placed  in  a  lilack  line, 
that  widens  as  it  descends  to  the  back;  hind  head  scarlet,  sometimes  intermixed 
with  black;  nostrils  hid  under  remarkably  thick,  bushy,  recumbent  hairs,  or 
bristles;  under  the  bill  are  certain  long  hairs  thrown  forward  and  upward;  bill 

1  See  p.  84,  vol.  IX.,  Pacific  R.U.  Reports. 


1:1   1 


"  '  'if 

'      ■  if 

<  i    *  "s 

1^  V 


88 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


a  bluish  horn-color,  grooved,  wedded  nt  the  end  stnu.ht,  and   ^  "*«""''      J^  J 
quarter  long;  touches  of  bh.ek,  proeeeling  .ron>  the  lower  nunulil.l  ,  e  u   n,  a  broad 
Tek  strip  that  joins  the  black  on  the  shoulder,  back  black,  . bvuled  by  a  broad, 
lateral  str  p  of  .vinte,  the  feathers  con-posing  which  are  loose  and  unwebbed,  .vsen.- 
bling  hairs,  -  >vhence  its  nan.e ;  run.p  and  shoulders  of  the  .vn,g  black :  wn.gs  black, 
tipped  and  spotted  with  white,  three  rows  of  spots  being  v.s.blc  on    he  ->""^1""|'« 
and  live  on    l.e  prinu.ries;  greater  wing  everts  also  spotted  w.th  wh.  e;  ta  1,  as  m 
Z^Iors,  cuneiL,,  consisting  of  ten  strong-shat^cd  and  pointed  ^-J  -;     ^J- 
nmldlc  ones  black,  the  next  partially  white,  the  two  exter.or  ones  w  lute,  tn,ged  at 
the  tip  with  a  brownish  bnrnt-eolor ;  tad  coverts  black ;  whole  lower  side  pine-wh.te , 
h...s  feet,  and  claws  light-blue,  the  latter  remarkably  large  and  strong;  msule  ot  the 
„:.;thfi:sh.colorcd;  tongue  pointed,  beset  with  barbs,  a^l  -1«'^'-;^ ^-«  »-; 
truded  more  than  an  inch  and  a  half;  the  os  hyo.des,  n.  tins  spee.es  passes  on  each 
side  of  the  neck,  ascends  the  skull,  passes  down  towards  the  "'-f  ;""'    ^,7 
round  the  bone  of  the  right  eye,  which  projects  consulerably  more    ban  the  left  lor 
its  aeeonnnodation.    The  great  nn.ss  of  hairs  that  cover  the  nostrd  "PI-"-    °  ^-^ 
designed  as  a  protection  to  the  front  of  the  head,  when  the  bn-d  .s  engaged  m  d.gg  ng 
ho    s  into  the  Ld.     The  mend.ane  which  encloses  the  brain  n.  tins,  as  .n  .^  tl^ 
other  species  of  woodpeckers,  is  also  of  extraordinary  strength;  no  doubt   to  pre^en 
anv  kul  effects  from  violent  concussion  while  the  bird  is  cn.ploycd  n,  digging  for 
foil.     The  fcnnde  wants  the  red  on  the  hind  head,  and  the  white  below  .s  tniged 
with  brownish."  —  Wilson. 

THE  above  description,  as  given  by  Wilson,  is  very  full 
and  complete.     This  Woodpecker  is  a  rather  common 
visitor   in   New  England,  in  the  spring,  fall,  and  winter 

months,    and    is,    to 
some    extent,   a   resi- 
dent through  the  year. 
Proltal)ly    the    greater 
'number  retire  to  the 
Nortli  in  the  breeding 
season  ;  and  those  that 
remain  in   the  south- 
ern districts  of  these 
States    most   usually   seek    the   woods   for    their   sumnier 
homes,   and    are,   as   a   general    thing,   sohlom    met   with 
in  the  thickly  settled   districts.      The   flight   is   a  waver- 
ing, undulating   one,  like   that    of  all   the   woodpeckers ; 
consisting  of  a  series   of  short   vibrations   of  the  wings, 
followed  by  a  downward,  soaring  movement,  which  is  suc- 
ceeded by  another  similar  series.     On  alighting,  the  bird 


SkiiU  and  tongue  of  Wooapecker. 


^ 


,0^ 


^ '*•?-> 


/  ><\  I' 


**  * '  ,       ft 


■J^-icf. 


'/r#^ ' 


rfai*^" 


;  i  i 


Si 


i 

1 

i 

i*if  ><  ]j»  it  Iw  i^H^^^^^^^^^I 

1 

!5l  1^ 

u 

-'I  I' 


„  I 


;.!, 


il^ 


:   , 


I  i'^^ 


I  :.      :    't  in»;lj  and  n 
ii'lihlf,  and  M»  11  bl'rml 

•     .    .1..    1      1,,       ,       .,•,,,,! 

-frOluiafU'-< 

ii  ;  tail,  n>  in 
•  '-.  'lia  fimr 

i!;;.',i'd  fit, 

|;'Jl'--«hilc; 

,   iii'^lt  i>rtiie 

:".;  pro- 

.11  I'ftih 

!clt  lor 
•  to  bo 

'i.Wi'lg 
,  ;.,  all  11,.-' 
',  ('i  prev-:.i. 

,;l;;..'v;    ill    Ctiffgillf^    I'ur 

\<iiit('  tiijl'ivv  ■»  finc'i'd 


^ 


KM 


I 


iv 


.   i^  ii  ■.'.■itlKU'  coiimioii 
.'•:     '■  '■'     and    wintrr 
and     i 
soiao   {rxtout,  'a   ^ex: 
thrill  thnmuh  thcyo:'.'. 
Pr()L)al)ij    the    great (■• 
liUHiVior  rofiro  t"  t'l 
.Norti)  ill  tin;  hvi  ^ 
ftcasiiti  :  and  ihos 

tM'ii   (lisuiuts 
odf-   for   tlioir    -■ 

flichf    i>    , 

jilioi-t    ■,  illations   of  tho 

uu  iuiditinu'. 


IIaiky   \Vuu1)1'Ix;ki:i4.   Pirns   nl/,/s/is.      Liniiii' 


strili 

tion 

one. 

by  tl 

oldt 

oftei 

hard 

for  a 

fiirii 

Tl 
less : 
is  ve 
the  ( 
moiii 
.62  1 

Tl 
so  fa 
itcd 
to  be 

Tl 
and 
wooc 
obtai 
and 
•barbi 
but  ] 
trees 


up 

niog. : 

Ar 
white  f 
the  up] 


THE   DOWNY  WOODPECKER. 


89 


strikes  its  object  with  both  feet,  and  makes  no  discrimina- 
tion between  a  horizontal  brancli  or  limb  and  a  perpendicular 
one.  It  commences  its  building  operations  quite  early,  often 
by  the  20th  of  April.  The  nest  is  made  by  excavating  in 
old  trees  in  the  woods,  rarely  in  orchards :  the  hole  made  is 
often  as  much  as  eighteen  inches  in  depth,  in  some  cases 
hardly  five  inches.  A  post  in  a  fence  is  sometimes  taken 
for  a  breeding-place,  the  hole  in  which  the  rail  is  inserted 
furnishing  a  starting-place  for  the  excavation  of  the  nest. 

The  eggs  are  usually  five  in  number ;  seldom  more,  often 
less :  they  are  of  a  beautiful  clear-white  color,  and  the  shell 
is  very  smooth  and  rather  thin ;  and,  before  the  contents  of 
the  egg  are  removed,  they  imi)art  a  rosy  tint  to  it.  Speci- 
mens vary  in  size  from  .77  to  .8-1  inch  in  length,  by  from 
.62  to  .68  inch  in  breadth. 

The  nest  is  never  lined  with  leaves  or  other  soft  materials, 
so  far  as  my  observation  has  been ;  but  the  eggs  are  depos- 
ited on  a  small  pile  of  chips  of  the  rotten  wood,  which  seem 
to  be  left  by  the  bird  designedly  for  this  purpose. 

The  food  of  this  species  consists  principally  of  the  eggs 
and  larvas  of  injurious  insects  that  are  burrowing  in  the 
wood  of  our  fruit  and  forest  trees :  these  he  is  enabled  to 
obtain  by  chiselling  out  a  small  hole  with  his  i)owcrful  bill, 
and  drawing  them  from  their  lurking-places  Avith  his  long 
.barbed  tongue,  lie  also  eats  some  small  fruits  and  berries, 
but  never,  so  for  as  I  am  aware,  the  buds  or  blossoms  of 
trees,  as  some  persons  assert. 

PICUS  PUBESCENS.  —  Llnnmis. 
The  Downy  Woodpecker. 

ricm  puhescens,  Linnwiis.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17GC)  15.    Vieill.  Ois.  Am.  (1807)  65. 

'Tirtis  i)iibescens,"  Liiinicus,  Wilson.  Am.  Orn.  I.  (1808)  153.  Ami.  Orn. 
Biog.  II.  (1834). 

Deschiption. 

A  miniature  of  P.  villosus.  Above  lilaik,  with  a  white  band  down  the  back;  two 
white  stripes  on  tlie  side  of  tlie  head;  tiie  lower  of  opposite  sides  always  separated; 
the  upper  sometimes  confluent  on  the  nape;  two  stripes  of  black  on  the  side  of  the 


90 


ORNITIIOLO(!Y   AND    OOLOGY. 


!       (  t 


!|!   .1' 


head,  the  lownr  not  running  int"  tin'  furulu'iul;  Ix'iRntli  white  |  win^  imicli  spotted 
•with  wliite;  tlie  hir^^cr  eoveriM  with  two  series  eneli;  tertiaries  or  inner  seeondaries 
all  l)ande(l  witli  wliite;  two  outer  tail  leatlier'^  wiiite,  with  two  hniuU  ol'  Mack  at  the 
end,  third  white  at  tip  and  externally.  Male,  with  red  terminating?  the  white  leathers 
on  the  nape;  legs  and  I'eet  bluish-green;  claws  light-blue  tipiied  with  bluek;  iris 
dark-ha/.el. 

Length,  about  six  and  a  (luarter  inches;  wing,  three  and  three-quarters. 

Tills  little  AVoodpockor — the  smallest  we  have — is  abun- 
dantly disti'ibutcd  throiiglKnit  New  Eiighuid,  and  is  a  resi- 
dent throu'-liout  the  year.  The  exceedinj-ly  interestin«; 
description  of  its  habits,  by  Wilson,  is  so  t'lill  that  I  will  give 
it  entire.     He  says :  — 

"  About  the  middle  of  May,  the  male  and  fem.ilo  look  out  for  a 
suitable  place  for  the  reception  of  their  eggs  and  young.  An  apple, 
pear,  or  cherry  tree  —  often  in  the  near  neighborhood  of  the  farni- 
liouse  —  is  generally  tixod  upon  for  this  purpose.  The  tree  is  mi- 
nutely reconnoitred  for  several  days  previous  to  the  ojjeration  ;  tuul 
the  work  is  first  begun  by  the  male,  who  cuts  out  a  hole  in  the  solid 
wood  as  circular  as  if  described  with  a  [)air  of  compasses.  He  is 
occasionally  relieved  by  the  female,  both  parties  working  with  the 
most  indefatigable  diligence.  The  direction  of  the  hole,  if  made  in 
the  body  of  the  tree,  is  generally  downwards,  by  an  angle  of  thirty 
or  forty  degrees,  for  the  distance  of  six  or  eight  inches,  and  then 
straicht  down  for  ten  or  twelve  more :  within,  roomy,  capacious, 
and  as  smooth  as  if  polished  by  the  cabinet-maker;  but  the  entrance 
is  judiciously  left  just  so  large  as  to  admit  the  bodies  of  the  owners.^ 
During  this  labor,  they  regularly  carry  out  the  chips,  often  strewing 
them  at  a  distance,  to  prevent  suspicion.  This  operation  sometimes 
occupies  the  chief  part  of  a  week.  Before  she  begins  to  lay,  the 
female  often  visits  the  place,  passes  out  and  in,  examines  every 
part  —  both  of  the  exterior  and  interior  —  with  great  attention 
(as  every  prudent  tenant  of  a  new  house  ought  to  do),  and  at 
length  takes  complete  possession.  The  eggs  are  generally  six, — 
pure-white,  and  laid  on  the  smooth  bottom  of  the  cavity.  The 
male  occasionally  supplies  the  female  with  food  while  she  is  sitting ; 
and,  about  the  last  .-/eek  in  June,  the  young  are  perceived  making 
their  way  up  the  tree,  climbing  with  considerable  dexterity.  All 
this  goes  on  with  great  regularity  where  no  interruption  is  met 


THE   DOWNY   WOODPECKER. 


91 


with  ;  l)ut  the  IIouso  Wren,  who  also  buUds  in  th(>  lioUow  of  •» 
tr«'(!,  hut  who  is  ii(iith(!r  furnished  with  tlio  ncocssjiry  fools  nor 
strensth  for  cxcaviiting  such  an  apartniont  for  himself,  allows  the 
woodpeckers  to  go  on  till  he  thinks  it  will  answer  his  purpose, 
then  attacks  them  with  violence,  and  generally  succeeds  in  drivin<r 
them  off'.  I  saw,  some  weeks  ago,  a  striking  example  of  this, 
where  the  Woodpeckers  we  are  now  describing,  after  commoncin<f 
in  a  cherry-tree,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  house,  and  having  made 
considerable  progress,  were  turned  out  by  the  Wren.  The  former 
began  again  on  a  pear-tree  in  the  garden,  lifteen  or  twenty  yards 
off,  whence,  after  digging  out  a  most  complete  apartment,  and  one 
egg  being  laid,  they  were  once  more  assaulti;d  by  the  same  imper- 
tinent intruder,  and  finally  forced  to  abandon  the  place. 

"  The  principal  characteristics  of  this  little  bird  are  diligence, 
familiarity,  perseverance,  and  a  strength  and  energy  in  the  liead 
and  nmsdes  of  the  neck  which  are  truly  astonishing.     Mounted  on 
the  infected  branch  of  an  old  apple-tree,  where  insects  have  lodged 
their  corroding  and  destructive  brood  in  crevices  between  the  bark 
and  wood,  he  labors  sometimes  for  half  an  hour  incessantly  at  the 
same  spot,  before  he  has  succeeded  in  dislodging  and  destroying 
them.     At  these  times,  you  may  walk  up  pretty  close  to  the  tree, 
and  even  stand  immediately  below  it,  within  five  or  six  feet  of  the 
bird,  without  in  the  least  embarrassing  him.     The  strokes  of  his 
bill  are  distinctly  heard  several  hundred  yards  of!';    and  I  have 
known  him  to  be  at  work  for  two  hours  together  on  the  same  tree. 
BufFon  calls  this  'incessant  toil  and  .slavery;'  their  attitude,  'a 
painful  posture;'  and  their  life. 'a  dull  and  insipid  existence,' — 
expressions   improper   because   untrue,  and   absurd  because  con- 
tradictory.    The  posture  is  that  for  which  the  whole  organization 
is   particularly  adapted;  and  though   to  a  Wren  or  a  Humming- 
bird the  labor  would  be  both  toil  and  slavery,  yet  to  him  it  is,  I 
am  convinced,  as  pleasant  and  as  amusing  as  the  sports  of  the 
chase  to  the  hunter,  or  the  sucking  of  flowers  to  the  Humming- 
bird.    The  eagerness  with  which  he  traverses  the  ujiper  and  lower 
sides  of  the  branches,  the  cheerfulness  of  his  cry,  and  the  liveli- 
ness of  his  motions  while  digging  into  the  tree  and  dislodging  the 
vermin,  justify  this  belief.     He  has  a  single  note,  or  chink,  which, 
like  the  former  species,  he  frequently  repeats ;  and  when  he  flies 


til 


Hi.    i 


92 


OIlNlTllOLOCiY    AND   OOI.OCY. 


off,  or  nli.irhts  on  niiotlicr  tiw,  ho  iitt.Ts  a  mtlior  flirillor  fry,  com- 
,,o8c(l  of  nc.irly  the  saiiio  kind  of  not.',  .luickly  ivitrratiMl.     In  fiill 
an.l  wintrr,  he  uss.H-iutcH  witli  tlio  Titmouso,  Cm-por,  &o.,  both  in 
their  wood  and  orcliard  exoursionH,  and  usually  lends  tho  van.     Of 
all  our  AVoodi)Cckors,  none  rid  the  ai)p!e-ticeH  of  so  many  vermin 
as  this.  di,-:,i;in<i  ofl"  the  moss  wliieli  the  nejrlijr,M.eo  of  tho  i)roprie- 
tor  had  su'lered  to  accunuilate.  and   pr()l)injr  evcu-y  eroviee.     In 
faet,  the  orehard  is  his  favorite  resort  in  all  seasons ;  and  his  indus- 
try is  unequalled  and  almost  incessant,  which  is  more  than  can  be 
said  of  any  other  species  we  have.     In  full,  he  is  particularly  fond 
of  boriiiir  the  ajiple-trces  for  insects,  diji,-;inj;  a  circular  hole  throu-h 
the   iKirk,  just  sullicient  to  a.lmit   his  bill ;    after  that,  a  second, 
third,  &c.,  in  pretty  regular  horizontal  circles  round  tho  body  of 
tho  tree:  these  parallel  circles  of  holes  are  often  not  more  than  an 
inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half  apart,  and  sometimes  so  close  to<,'ether 
that  I  have  coven.'d  eight  or  ten  of  them  at  once  with  a  dollar. 
From  nearly  the  surface  of  the  jLjround  up  to  tho  iirst  fork,  and 
sometimes  far  beyond  it,  the  wholes  bark  of  many  apple-trees  is 
perforated  in  this  manner,  so  as  to  ai.i>ear  as  if  made  by  successive 
discharjics  of  buck-shot;  and  our  little  Woodpecker  — the  subject 
of  the  present  account  — is   the  princii)al  jjcrpetrator  of  this  sup- 
])osed  mischief:  I  say  sui)posed,  for,  so  far  from  these  perforations 
of  the  bark  beinjt  ruinous,  they  are  not  oidy  harndess,  but,  I  have 
good  reason  to  believe,  really  benoHcial  to  the  health  and  fertility 
of  the  tree.     I  leave  it  to  the  philosophical  bolanist  to  account  for 
this;  but  the  fact  I  am  conlldent  of.     In  more  than  fifty  orchards 
which   I   have  myself  carefully  examined,  those  trees  which  were 
marked  by  the  Woodpecker  (for  some  trees  they  never  touch,  per- 
haps because  not  penetrated  by  insects)  were  uniformly  the  most 
thrivinii.  and  seemingly  the  most  productive.     INIany  of  these  were 
npwanFs  of  sixty  years  old,  their  M-unks  completely  covered  with 
holes,  while  the  branches  were  broad,  luxuriant,  and  loaded  with 
fruit.'    Of  dcca\ed  trees,  more  than  three-fourths  wer<^  untouched 
by  the  Woodpecker.      Several  intelligent  farmers,  with   whom  I 
have  conversed,  candidly  acknowledge!  the  truth  of  these  observa- 
tions, and  with  justice  look  upon  these  birds  as  beneticial :  but  tho 
most'common  opinion  is,  that  they  bore  the  tree  to  suck  the  sap, 
ami  so  destroy  its  vegetation :  though  pine  and  other  resinous  trees, 


TIIH    DOWNY    WOOUi'KCKER. 


93 


on  tho  juices  of  which  it  in  not  protPiidod  thoy  feed,  nro  ofton 
found  tMiiiiiily  perforated.  W.Te  tlie  mip  of  tlie  tre.^  (lieir  ohjoot, 
tli(!  saccliiuiiie  juice  of  tin;  hireh,  tlie  su^iiir-muple,  and  Heveral 
otliers,  would  1)C  much  more  inviting  (because  more  Hweet  and 
noiirihhin;,')  tliaii  tliat  of  eitlier  tlie  pear  or  apple  live;  but  I  have 
not  observed  (im«  mark  on  ilie  former  for  ten  thousand  that  may  be 
Keen  on  tiie  latter.  IJesidt's.  the  early  part  of  spriiij;  is  tin-  seasi.n 
when  the  sap  (Iowh  most  ubnndaiitly;  wliereas,  it  in  only  dnriiij,' 
the  months  of  September,  October,  ami  November,  that  Wood- 
pec^kera  are  seen  so  indefali<rably  enj,'a<fr(l  in  orchards,  probiii<j 
every  crack  and  crevice,  borini,'  through  tiie  bark  —  ami,  what  is 
worth  remarking',  cliii'lly  on  the  south  and  south-west  sides  of  the 
tree  —  for  the  eu'^'s  and  larviu  deposited  there  by  the  cmintless 
swarms  of  summer  insects.  These,  if  siitrered  to  remain,  would 
prey  upon  the  very  vitals  —  if  I  may  so  express  it  —  of  the  tree, 
and  in  the  siicceediii>r  summer  ^dve  birth  to  myriads  more  of  their 
race,  etpially  destructive. 

"  Here,  then,  is  a  whole  species,  I  may  say  genus,  of  birds, 
wliich  I'rovidence  seems  to  have  formed  for  the  protection  of  our 
fruit  and  forest  trees  from  the  ravages  of  vermin,  which  every  day 
destroy  millions  of  thesis  noxious  insects  that  would  otherwise  blast 
the  hopes  of  the  husbandman;  they  even  promote  the  fertility 
of  the  tree,  and,  in  return,  are  proscribed  by  those  who  ought  to 
have  been  their  protectors,  and  incitements  and  rewards  held  out 
for  their  destruction !  i.et  us  examine  better  into  the  operations 
of  nature,  and  many  of  our  mistaken  opinions  and  groundless 
prejudices  will  Iw,  abandoned  for  more  just,  enlarged,  and  humane 
modes  of  thinking." 

Tli(!  iH'st  ami  c<igs  are  of  the  same  description  as  tlie 
Hairy  Woodpecker's,  except  with  regard  to  size;  the  eggs 
of  the  present  species  being  consi(h'ral)]y  smaller  on  tho 
average,  meiisnring  from  .7:>  to  .77  inch  in  length,  hy 
from  .00  to  .oo  inch  in  breadth.  1  tliinic  that  the  nests  of 
this  species,  as  of  some  others,  are  used  for  successive 
seasons,  as  1  liave  found  apparently  old  nests  occnjiied  hy 
breeding  birds.  1  am  not  aware  that  the  irairy  Wood- 
pecker uses  the  same  nest  several  seasons.     The  Downy 


94 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Woodpecker  sometimes  rears  two  broods  in  the  southern 
portion  of  New  England ;  usually,  but  one. 


nil 


PICOIDES,  Lacepede. 

Ficoides,  Lacki'Kdk,  Mem.  Inst.  (1799). 

liili  about  as  loll^'  as  the  liead,  very  nuieli  depressed  at  the  hase;  the  outlines 
nearly  strai{,'ht ;  the  lateral  ridge  at  its  base  much  nearer  the  eoniniissure  than  the 
culuien,  so  Ts  to  brin-  the  large  rather  linear  nostrils  elose  to  the  edge  of  the  eom- 
missure;  the  gonvs  very  long,  e(|ual  to  the  distanee  from  the  nostrils  to  the  ti))  of  the 
bill;  feet  with  onlv  three  toes;  the  outer  lateral  a  little  longer  thiui  the  inner,  but 
Bliglitly  exeeeded  bv  the  hind  toe,  whieh  is  about  equal  to  the  tarsus;  wings  very 
long,  reaching  beyo"nd  the  middle  of  the  tail;  fourth  and  fifth  quills  longest;  color 
black,  with  a  broad  patch  of  yellow  on  the  crown;  transversely  banded  ou  the  sides; 
quills  with  round  spots. 

PICOIDES   ARCTICUS.  —  Gw(/. 

The  Black-br.cked,  Thrse-toed  Woodpecker. 

Piciis  (Aptenuis)  arcltciis.     Sw.  V.  Bor.  Am.,  II.  (1S31)  313. 
rU-iis  arctiais.     And.  Syn.  (1830)  182.     Jb.,  Birds  Amer.,  IV.  (1842)  266.     Nut- 
tall,  Man.,  I.  (20  ed.  1840)  O'Jl. 

Plcus  tridacUjlus,  Bonaparte.     Am.  Cm.,  II.  (1828)  14.     Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  II. 

(1834). 

Desckiition. 

Above  entirely  uniform  glossy  bluish-black;  a  square  patch  on  the  middle  of  the 
crown  satlVon-yeilow,  and  a  few  spots  on  the  outer  edges  of  both  webs  of  the  primary 
and  secondary  quills;  beneath  white,  on  the  sides  of  the  l)reast  longitudinally  striped, 
and  on  the  sides  of  the  belly  and  on  :ne  flanks  and  tiliial  region  banded  transversely 
with  black;  a  narrow  concealed  white  line  from  the  eye  a  short  distanee  backwards, 
and  a  white  stripe  from  the  extreme  forehead  (meeting  anteriorly)  under  the  eye, 
and  down  the  sides  of  the  neck;  bristly  feathers  of  the  base  of  the  bill  brown;  ex- 
posed portion  of  the  two  outer  tail  feathers  (first  and  second)  white;  bill  bluish-black, 
the  lower  mandible  grayish-blue;  iris  bluish-black.     Female,  without  yellow  on  the 

head. 

Length,  about  nine  and  a  half  inches;  wing,  live;  tail,  three  cighty-hve  onc- 

hundredths.  , 

This  species  is  rare  in  the  three  southern  New-Eiioland 
States,  where  it  is  found  only  as  a  winter  visitor.  In  the 
others,  it  is  not  vei-y  abundant,  and  is  only  resident,  in 
the  most  northern  sections,  in  the  neighborhood  of,  or  in,  the 
deep  forests  and  uninhabited  districts,  through  the  year. 

Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the  other  woodpeckers. 
I  have  had  abundant  opportunities  of  noticing  them,  and 
have  discovered  nothing  peculiar  in  them,  or  worthy  of  re- 


THE   BANDED   THREE-TOED   WOODPECKER. 


95 


mark.  Its  breeding  habits  are  not  well  known  ;  but  it 
probably  breeds  in  o,ll  the  large  forests  of  Northern  Maine, 
New  Hampshire,  and  Vermont. 

I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  two  nests  in  the  month  of 
June,  18G4,  in  the  valley  of  the  Magalloway  River,  about 
forty  miles  north  of  Lake  Umbagog,  Me.  The  holes  were 
both  excavated  in  hemlock  stumps,  about  ten  feet  from  the 
ground ;  they  were  not  over  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter, 
and  wei-e  about  ten  inches  in  depth :  the  bottom  of  the 
hole  formed  the  nest,  which,  as  with  the  other  species,  was 
nothing  but  a  few  chips  and  bits  of  wood.  The  first  nest, 
fomid  on  the  15th  of  June,  had  three  young  birds,  appar- 
ently about  a  week  old.  The  second  nest  had  three  eggs : 
these  were  of  a  beautiful  clear-white  color,  and  the  shells 
remarkably  smooth  to  the  touch.  Their  dimensions  varied 
only  from  .83  to  .85  inch  in  length,  by  .75  to  .77  inch  in 
breadth. 

PICOIDES   HIESUTUS.  —  Gcaj/. 
The  Banded  Three-toed  'Woodpecker. 

Piciis  hirsiihts,  Vicitlot.  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  II.  (1807)  68.  And.  Orn.  Biog.,  V.  18, 
39,  184.     Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  IV.  (1842),  pi.  209.     Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (Sd  ed.  1840)  692. 

De-scription. 

Blai'k  above;  the  back  with  transverse  bands  of  white  to  the  rump;  a  wliite  line 
from  behind  the  eye,  wideniii}^  on  tlie  nape,  and  a  broader  one  under  the  ej-e  from 
the  loral  region,  but  not  extending  on  the  forehead;  occiput  and  sides  of  the  head 
uniform  black;  (piills  spotted  on  both  webs  with  white;  under  parts  white;  t.ie  -ides 
banded  transversely  witli  black;  top  of  the  head  .spotted  with  white;  the  crown  of 
the  male  with  a  yellow  patcii;  bill  bluish-black;  iris  dark-hazel. 

Length,  about  nine  inches;  wing,  tour  I'orty-livo  one-hundrcdths;  tail,  three 
thirty-tivo  one-hundredths. 

This  bird  is  rarely  found  in  New  England,  except  in  the 
midst  of  severe  winters,  and  then  it  seldom  penetrates  so 
far  south  as  ^lassachusctts.  I  have  known  of  but  two  or 
three  specimens  being  obtained  in  this  State,  and  never 
heard  of  any  being  shot  in  the  others  south  of  it.  Having 
had  no  opportunities  for  observing  its  habits,  1  can  add 
nothing  to  our  knowledge  of  this  species. 


1  ^ 


li'il 


96  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


SI'HYRAPICUS,  Baird. 

Pilumnus,  Boiiapar'e.  Consp.  Zygod.  Ateneo  Italiano,  Jlay,  1654.  (P.  thj- 
ro'uh'un.) 

JJill  as  in  Picus,  but  the  lateral  ridgo,  whU'li  is  very  prominent,  running  out  dis- 
tinctly to  the  commissure  at  about  its  middle,  beyond  which  the  bill  is  rounded 
without  any  angles  at  all;  the  culmen  and  gonys  are  very  nearly  straight,  but 
slightly  convex,  the  bill  tapering  rapidly  to  a  point;  the  lateral  outline  concave  to 
very  near  the  slightly  bevelled  tip;  outer  i)air  of  toes  longest;  the  hinder  exterior 
rather  longest;  the  inner  posterior  toe  very  short,  less  tluin  the  inner  anterior  with- 
out its  claw;  wings  long  and  pointed,  the  fourth  longest;  tail  feathe 's  very  broad, 
abruptly  acinuinate,  with  a  very  long  linear  point. 

SPHTEAPICUS  VARIUS.— flrr//</. 

The  Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker. 

Picus  vnriiis,  Linnteus.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  170.  AVilson,  Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808) 
147.    And.  Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (1834)  519. 

DESCHirTION. 

Fourth  quill  longest;  third  a  little  shorter;  Auu'th  considerably  shorter;  general 
color  above  black,  much  variegated  with  white;  feathers  of  the  back  and  rump 
brownish-white,  spotted  with  black;  crown  scarlet,  bordered  by  black  on  tlic  sides 
of  tlie  head  and  nape;  a  streak  from  above  tlu^  eye,  and  another  t'rom  the  bristles  of 
the  bill,  passing  below  the  eye  and  into  the  yellowish  of  the  belly,  and  a  strijie  along 
the  edges  of  the  wing  coverts  white;  a  triangular  broad  patch  of  scarlet  on  the  chin, 
bordered  on  each  side  by  black  stripes  from  the  lower  mandible,  which  meet  b-hind, 
and  extend  into  a  large  quadrate  spot  on  the  breast;  rest  of  under  parts  yellowish- 
■white,  streaked  on  the  sides  with  black ;  inner  web  of  inner  tail-feather  white,  sjxitted 
with  black;  outer  feathers  black,  edged  and  spotted  with  whit(!.  Female,  with  the 
red  of  the  throat  replaced  by  white.  Young  male,  without  black  on  the  breast, 
or  red  on  the  top  of  the  head;   iris  dark-hazel. 

Length,  eight  and  a  quarter  inches;  wing,  about  four  and  three-quarters;  tail, 
three  thirty  one-hundredths. 

This  bird  is  very  irregularly  distributed  in  New  England 
as  a  summer  visitor.  Verrill,  in  his  Catalogue,  Ix'tbre  re- 
ferred to,  says  that  it  is  a  common  summer  visitor,  and 
breeds  at  Norway,  Mc.  J.  A.  Allen  says,  that  near  Spring- 
field "  it  is  not  common,  and  is  only  seen  in  fall  and  spring, 
when  migrating.  1  have  never  seen  this  species  hero  in 
summer,  and  do  not  think  it  breeds  here ;  though  I  am 
informed  by  W.  IT.  Niles  that  '  they  breed  j)lentifully  on  the 
hills  in  Western  Massachusetts,  twenty  or  thirty  miles  west 
of  Springfield.'  " 


THE   YELLOW-BELLIED   WOODPECKER. 


97 


So  far  as  my  own  observation  has  been,  it  is  not  found  at 
all  abundant  in  any  part  of  those  States ;  and  I  think,  that 
oil  the  seaboard,  it  is  rare.  •  ' 

It  arrives  from  the  South,  from  about  the  10th  to  the  20th 
of  April,  and  soon  commences  pairing.    I  have  never  noticed 
any  great  peculiarity  in  its  habits.     It  seems  to  prefer  the 
woods  to  the  more  open  districts,  and  very  seldom  indeed 
makes  its  appearance,  in  the  breeding  season,  in  the  orchards 
and  nurseries,  where,  as  it  is  often  said  by  persons  who  are 
prejudiced,  it  docs  considerable  damage  in  boring  into  applp- 
trees  and  sucking  the  sap ;  hence  it  is  called  the  "  Sap- 
sucker."    I  am  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  its  habits,  in 
the  Western  States,  to  say  positively  that  it  does  not  eat 
some  of  the  inner  bark  of  trees,  when  in  pursuit  of  its 
favorite  insect-food ;    but  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  the 
denunciations  of  it,  so  often  seen  in  the  Western  papers 
are  exaggerated.  ' 

Dr.  Bryant,  who  has  paid  some  attention  to  the  examina- 
tion of  the  food  of  this  bird,  gives,  in  the  "  Proceedings  of 
the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,"  vol.  X.  91,  the  fol- 
lowing remarks :  — 

"It  has  long  been  known  that  some  of  our  smaller  woodpeckers 
pick  out  portions  of  the  sound  bark  of  trees,  particularly  of  apple- 
trees,  wliere  there  are  no  larvtp,  and  apparently  no  inducement  for 
them  to  do  so.  Wluit  their  object  is  lias  never  been  satisfactorily 
established.  In  Massachusetts,  I  am  not  aware  that  these  lioles 
are  ever  sufficiently  large  or  numerous  to  cause  any  material  injury 
to  the  apple-trees:  they  are  generally  seen  in  drcles  round  the 
hmbs  or  trunks  of  small  irregularly  rounded  holes,  and  in  this 
vicinity  are  made  almost  exclusively  by  the  Downy  Woodpecker 
(P.  pnhcscens),  aided  occasionally  by  tlie  Hairy  Woodpecker  {P. 
vUlosus).  In  certain  parts  of  the  AYest,  however,  it  is  said  that 
great  damage  is  done  to  orchards  by  the  Yellow-bellied  Wood- 
pecker  {S.  varim) ;  and  Dr.  Hoy,  of  Racine,  Wis.,  has  advanced 
the  theory  that  the  object  of  the  bird  in  so  doing  is  to  obtain  the 
inner  hark  for  food.  A  number  of  specimens  of  this  bird  for- 
warded  by  Dr.  Hoy  to  the   Smithsonian  Institution,  have  been 

7 


:i4i4i  /rf^-^ 


98 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND    OOLOGY. 


M'^ 


ii'Vi 


|l;:.    V    ' 


ii-    i 


placed  in  my  hands  by  Professor  13aird  for  examination :  as  the 
specimens  are  alcoholic,  the  soft  parts  are,  as  is  always  the  case, 
too  much  distorted  to  be  available  for  correct  comparisons;  tlie 
gizzard,  however,  seems  smaller,  and  the  proventriculus  larger,  than 
in  other  species  of  this  family  with  which  I  have  compared  them. 
The  contents  of  the  stomach  are  berries,  small  coleoptera,  larvae  of 
boring  beetles,  ants,  and  fragments  of  the  inner  bark  of  the  apple- 
tree." 

After  giving  minuto  analyses  of  the  cliaractcristics  of  the 
tongues  and  portions  of  the  skulls  of  the  different  small 
woodpeckers,  and  comparing  them  with  the  Yellow-bellied 
Woodpecker's,  showing  how  the  latter  differ  from  the  others, 
he  says : — 

"  The  general  shape  of  the  whole  tongue  is  not  much  unlike  that 
of  the  Robin ;  the  ciliated  edges  show  an  analogy  to  the  Melipha- 
gidce,  and  indicate  that  the  sap  of  the  trees  pecked  by  them  may 
form  a  portion  of  their  food.  In  the  stomachs  of  the  six  individuals 
examined  by  me,  fragments  of  the  inner  bark  were  found  in  all,  so 
tliat  it  can  hardly  be  presumed  to  have  been  accidentally  introduced. 
It  is  evident,  from  the  sliape  of  the  tongue,  that  it  is  not  used  as  a 
dart,  in  the  manner  of  the  true  Woodpecker,  to  draw  out  insects 
from  their  lurking-places,  but  that  these  are  seized  by  the  bill,  as  in 
other  insectivorous  birds.  Insects,  however,  probably  form  their 
chief  diet,  as  all  the  stomachs  examined  also  contained  insects,  the 
quantity  of  which  was  greater  than  that  of  the  fragments  of  bark : 
in  one  bird,  there  were  two  larva;  of  a  boring  beetle,  so  large  that 
there  was  not  room  for  both  in  the  stomach  at  once,  and  one  re- 
mained in  the  lower  part  of  the  ocsopliagus.  If  these  were,  as  is 
probable,  the  larva;  of  the  Saperda,  they  would  do  more  damage 
than  twenty  woodpeckers  ;  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  these  birds  are 
not  to  be  exterminated,  unless  it  is  clearly  demonstrated  that  the 
injury  caused  by  the  destruction  of  the  bark  is  not  more  than  com- 
pensated by  their  destruction  of  noxious  insects." 

About  the  1st  of  I*Iay,  the  Yellow-hclllod  Woodpecker 
commences  excavating  its  hole,  which  is  iisually  in  a  de- 
cayed tree  in  the  woods,  but  occasionally  in  a  sound  tree. 


-  L.  i.i 


:|i         ! 


THE  PILEATED   WOODPECKER. 


99 


Tliis  excavation  is  often  eighteen  or  twenty  inches  deep.  It 
is  not  lined  with  any  soft  material,  and  tlie  eggs  are  depos- 
ited on  chips  of  the  wood  left  in  the  bottom.  These  are 
iisnally  five  in  number ;  they  are  of  a  pnre-white  color,  and 
small  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  measuring  from  .82  to  .86  inch 
in  length,  by  from  .74  to  .77  inch  in  breadtli. 


HYLATOMUS,  Baird. 

Drynfomus,  Maltierbe,  Mem.  Ac.  Metz.  (1849)  322.    (Not  of  Swaincon  1S31  ) 
Bryopicus,  BoKAP.    Consp.  Zygod.  in  Aten.  Ital.  (May,  1854).  (Xot  of  Malhcrbe.) 

Bill  a  little  longer  than  the  hea.l;  considoral.Iy  depressed,  or  broader  than  high 
at  the  base;  shaped  mueh  as  in  Camprphihis,  except  shorter,  and  without  the  l)ri.tlv 
feathers  directed  fonvards  at  the  base  of  the  lower  jaw;  gonvs  about  half  the  length 
of  the  commissure;  tarsus  shorter  than  any  toe  except  the  inner  posterior;  outer 
posterior  too  shorter  than  the  outer  anterior,  and  a  little  longer  than  the  inner 
anterior;  inner  posterior  very  short,  not  half  the  outer  anterior,  about  half  the  inner 
anterior  one. 

Tail  long,  graduated,  the  longer  feathers  much  incurved  at  the  tip;  wing  longer 
than  the  tail,  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  exposed  surface  of  tail,  considerably 
graduated,  though  pointed,  tlie  fourth  and  fifth  quills  longest. 

Color  uniform  black,  with  white  patches  on  the  side  of  the  head:  head  with 
pointed  crest 

HYLATOMUS  PILEATUS- —  ^r,uv7. 

The  Pileated  Woodpecker;  Log  Cock. 

Pims  pilenfuf,Unnx\is.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (176G)  173.  Vieill.  Ois.  Am.  Sept  TI 
(1807)58.     Wilson,  Am.  Om.,r,'.  (1811)  27.    And.  Orn.  Biog.,  11.  (1834)  74.     ' 

Description. 

Fourth  and  fif^h  onills  equal  and  longest,  third  intermediate  between  the  sixth 
and  seventh;  bill  bluo-l)lmk;  general  color  of  body,  wings,  and  tail,  dull  greenish- 
black;  a  narrow  white  streak  from  just  above  the  eye  to  the  occiput,  a  wider  one 
from  the  nostril  feathers  (inclusive)  under  the  eye  and  along  the  side  of  the  head  and 
neck;  side  of  the  breast  (concealed  by  the  wing),  axillaries,  and  under  wing  coverts 
and  concealed  bases  of  all  the  quills,  with  chin  and  beneath  the  head,  white,  tinged 
with  sulphur-yellow;  entire  crown,  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  a  woll-developed 
occipital  crest,  as  also  a  patch  on  the  ramus  of  the  lower  jaw,  scarlet-red;  a  few 
white  crescents  on  the  sides  of  the  body  and  on  the  abdomen';  iris  very  dark  hazel. 

Female  without  the  red  on  the  cheek,  and  the  anterior  half  of  that  on  the  top 
of  the  head  replaced  by  black. 

Length,  about  eighteen  inches;  wing,  nine  and  a  half  inches. 

This  species  is  a  resident  in  the  northern  districts  of 
New  England  throughout  the  year.     It  has  been  known 


100 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I    ! 


'!:■ 


to  breed  in  Mussachusctta  ;  but,  as  a  general  tiling,  it  is  not 
found  south  of  the  northern  border  of  this  State.  Verrill, 
in  his  Catalogue  of  Maine  birds,  before  referred  to,  says 
"  it  is  a  common  resident,  and  breeds  :  "  he  also  says  it  is 
*'  most  common  in  winter." 

Tlie  great  size  and  strength  of  this  bird  enable  ••  ■ 
jjierce  into  and  tear  apart  the  decaying  trees  in  whiu  -■  ■ 
food  is  burrowing,  with  wonderful  facility  and  case.  I.  lui.o 
at  times,  in  passing  through  the  forest,  found  huge  trees 
that  had  died  and  fallen  to  the  ground,  with  their  bark 
stripped  off,  and  large  chips  torn  out,  as  if  some  animal  had 
been  at  work  on  them ;  and  I  always  sujjposed  that  a  bear 
had  been  amusing  himself,  as  those  animals  sometimes  do, 
in  this  employment.  One  day  I  discovered  the  author  of 
the  demolition,  and  it  proved  to  be  tlie  Tileated  AVoodi)ecker. 
While  seated  in  the  woods  near  the  settlement  known  as 
Wilson's  Mills  in  Iklainc,  I  heard  a  largo  animal,  as  I  sup- 
posed, rooting  and  tearing  into  a  dead  tree  a  few  rods  off.  I 
crept  up  near  the  sound,  ho|)ing  to  get  a  shot  at  a  bear,  when 
I  discovered  this  bird,  which  looked  very  much  like  a  black 
hen,  busily  at  work.  He  was  searching  for  the  borers  and 
large  black  ants  that  liide  beneath  the  bark ;  and  so  earnestly 
Avas  he  employed,  that  he  permitted  me  to  approach  very 
near  him.  He  would  force  his  powerful  bill,  by  repeated 
strokes,  into  the  bark,  in  holes  in  a  direct  line  with  the 
grain,  until  he  had  marked  out  a  patch,  perhaps  six  or  eight 
inches  square,  and  then,  striking  into  it  diagonally,  tear  it 
off,  thus  exposing  the  living  vermin  beneath,  which  he  lost 
no  time  in  securing.  After  clearing  that  spot,  he  moved  to 
another,  and  repeated  the  same  operation,  until,  l)y  a  sud- 
den movement,  1  startled  him,  when  he  flew  off,  uttering 
a  rattling  cackle  similar  to  that  of  a  garrulous  hen.  His 
flight  was  similar  to  that  of  the  otlier  woodpeckers  de- 
scribed in  another  place  in  this  volume.  In  addition  to 
insects,  this  Woodpecker  eats  acorns,  beech-nuts,  berries, 
and  Indian  corn,  but  is  not  at  all  troublesome  to  farmers ; 


THE  PILEATED   WOODPECKER. 


101 


and  the  little  that  it  pilfers  is  ranch  more  than  repaid  by 
the  immense  nnmbers  of  injnriou§  larva)  that  it  destroys. 

Wilson,  in  a  very  interesting   account   of  the   general 
habits  of  this  bird,  says ;  — 

"Almost  every  trunk  in  the  forest  where  he  resides  bears  the 
marks  of  his  chisel.  Wherever  he  perceives  a  tree  beginning  to 
decay,  he  examines  it  round  and  round  with  great  skill  and  ilex- 
terity,  strips  off  the  bark  in  sheets  of  five  or  six  feet  in  len-th,  to 
get  at  the  hidden  cause  of  the  disease,  and  labors  with  a  gayely  and 
activity  really  surprising.  He  is  sometimes  observed  among  the 
hills  of  Indian  corn,  and  it  is  said  by  some  that  he  frecp.ently  feeds 
on  It.  Complaints  of  this  kind  are,  however,  not  general ;  many 
farmers  doubting  the  fact,  and  conceiving  that  at  these  limes  he  is 
in  search  of  insects  which  lie  concealed  in  the  husk.  I  will  not  be 
positive  that  tlu.y  never  occasionally  taste  maize,  yet  I  have  opened 
and  exammed  great  numbers  of  these  birds,  killed  in  various  parts 
of  the  United  States,  from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Alatamaha  Eiver, 
but  never  found  a  grain  of  Indian  corn  in  their  stomachs." 

Of  its  breeding  habits  I  know  nothing,  and  will  give 
the  description  given  by  Rev.  John  Bachman,  in  a  letter 
to  ^fr.  Audubon.  He  says,  in  describing  a  nest  that  he 
found,  — 

"  The  hole  was  about  eighteen  inches  deep,  and  I  could  touch 
the  bottom  with  my  hand.  The  eggs,  which  were  laid  on  frag- 
ments of  chij)s  expressly  left  by  the  birds,  were  six,  large,  white, 
and  translucent.  Before  the  woodpeckers  began  to  set,'l  robbed 
them  of  their  eggs,  to  see  if  they  woidd  lay  a  second  time.  They 
waited  a  few  days,  as  if  undecided,  when,  on  a  sudden,  I  heard  the 
female  at  work  again  in  the  tree.  She  once  more  deepened 
the  bole,  made  it  broade.-  at  the  bottom,  and  reconimonced  laying. 
This  time  she  laid  five  eggs.  I  sufiered  her  to  bring  out  her  youn^, 
both  sexes  alternately  incubating,  each  visiting  the  other  at  inter- 
vals,  jieeping  into  the  hole  to  see  that  all  was  right  and  well  there, 
and  flying  otf  afterwards  in  search  of  food." 


!   'i 


I.  ' 


Urn  t 


102 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


MELANERPES,  Swainson. 


3relanerpe>,  Swainson,  F.  B.  A.,  11.  (1831)  (tvpo  ^r.  eryihrocfphalus), 
Uill  about  equal  to  the  head,  broader  tlian  lii^jli  at  tlie  base,  but  becoming  com- 
pressed immediately  anterior  to  the  eomineneemeiit  of  the  KO"y**;  eulmeii  and  gon3's 
with  a  moderately  decided  angular  ridge;  both  decidedly  curved  from  the  very 
base;  a  rather  prominent  neute  ridge  commences  at  the  base  of  the  mandible,  a  little 
below  the  ridge  of  the  culmen,  and  proceeds  but  a  short  distance  anterior  to  the  nos- 
trils (about  one-third  of  the  way),  when  it  sinks  down,  and  the  bill  is  then  smooth; 
the  lateral  outlines  are  gently  concave  from  the  basal  two-thirds,  then  gently  convex 
to  the  tip,  which  does  not  exhibit  any  abrupt  bevelling;  nostrils  open,  broadly  oval, 
not  concealed  by  the  feathei-s,  nor  entirely  basal;  the  outer  pair  of  toes  equal;  wings 
long,  broad;  third  and  fourth  quills  longest;  tail  feathers  broad. 

The  species  all  Lave  the  back  black,  without  any  spots  or  streaks  anywhere. 


MELANEEPES  EETTHEOCEPHALUS,  —  Swainson. 


The  Eed-headed  Woodpecker. 

Picas  erythrocephahs,  Linngcus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1766)  174. 
1.  (1810)  142.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  L  (1832). 


Wilson,  Am.  Orn., 


DEpCRIITION, 

Head  and  neck  all  round  crimson-red,  margined  by  a  narrow  crescent  of  black 
on  the  upper  part  of  the  breast;  back,  primary  quills,  and  tail,  bluish-black;  under 
parts  generally,  a  broad  band  across  the  middle  of  the  wing,  and  the  rump  white; 
iris  hazel;  bill  and  feet  bluish-black.    The  female  is  not  dill'erent. 

Length  about  nine  and  three-quarters  inches;  wing,  five  and  a  half. 

This  handsome  Woodpecker  is  a  not  very  common  summer 
inhabitant  of  New  England.  It  makes  its  appearance  from 
the  South  about  the  10th  of  May.  Its  liabits  arc  similar  to 
those  of  the  other  species ;  and  I  recollect  nothing  of  any 
importance  that  is  peculiar  to  them  except,  perhaps,  that 
these  birds  seem  to  be  much  fonder  of  the  small  fruits  than 
either  of  the  others.     Wilson  says  of  this  fact :  — 

"  Wherever  there  is  a  tree,  or  trees,  of  the  wild  cherry,  covered 
with  ripe  fruit,  there  you  see  them  busy  among  the  branches ;  and, 
in  passing  orchards,  you  may  easily  know  where  to  find  tlie  earliest, 
sweetest  apples,  by  observing  those  trees  on  or  near  wliich  tlie 
Red-headed  Woodpecker  is  skulking:  for  he  is  so  excellent  a  con- 
noisseur in  fruit,  that,  wherever  an  apple  or  pear  is  found  broached 
by  him,  it  is  sure  to  be  among  the  ripest  and  best  flavored.     When 


1^ 


m 


ii| 


-■I 


,  1 


en 


'ii' 


lii:i)-iii;Ai»Ki>   WoODPKCKKU,   Afelanerpes  erylliroceplKilan.      .S\vaiii:?uu. 


I 


THI3  UED-HEADf 


« 


■  Ix'iirs  it  (AY  La  tln)  wytKls.     Wlioii  tlu-  Indian  •.•on*  ii*  in  jUs 
suioulcnt.   milky  .-'lute,  he  iUtick'^    '■  ■    ■ 

■-,    ;'■■■•.  .1.   •! ,.  iiiimei'O''  .        ' 

{ririll'iAi 
uiumon  nmonir  corn-tiolilH  in  1  he  buck  settloim-n' 
v'trcata,  Vfh<  allitis  out  to  mnko  hin 

of  U»e  14;.  uvxi-u-^  nf  tho  sour  Kuni.  iV: 
1,.  i'u.  r}\(.ivy.irt'i;'s,  wht'U  loiidcil  witlt  t' 
.,  ihe  liaru  or  fuim-hoiisc,  tmd 

J   .i  uenthdr-i  '  of  n  guy  uiul  tVoUcHome  ilis.piwitiiju ; 

rati  li.iU;iuity  (iiv  frfqimntlv  soon  liivinL^  ".nci  ^ 


11.'  i^ 

1-  .M'MC 


ttl|. 


Thoij' 
•xt  of  a 


KU.'li 


.     )ndC'rl  Wufidpecfet'i- 

this*  suhjpot.  th;ii  ..uiuJ  i'l.i'!*.      \v<' ^ 

'(•^i'<b?'i!- ■■  ■      •  ■     ■   ■  '      • 

ce  per  heart  for  thtir 
m,^     but  ifi  us  iiuL  coutii-niu  Un   ipt'cies  unhi-a-'h  thoy 
u  Ui'-y  raui^t  therefore  !•«    nt'cessary.      If  theiv  mQvh-   nt'd 
.  luliii'-s  be  finnul,  on  f^xnmi-infion.  to  prt^ivondorfitc  f.jjnii;^-! 
:,  !•  I  ),>-  aviul  '>ur^..l\  •■  wliiie  wo  isw  ■ 

.1  l\w.  latter. 
Tiioii^ii  liiiiS  bird  oocu^ioiuUly  reg'tica  iuK::-;i  on  nu:(,  yi  h-^ 
irai  ;r  ■  :  r  '  usoful  food  Im  insects,  particulnri v  tV.oso  mirno'-mis 
dt^  ,    spocies  that  penctratf  th<i  hnvu 

their  eggs  and  lurviv  i. 

immensi   '  '■  :iii  iuK-f't-.  uni  iiis  ictiurai  liud 

:,u  the   coTiMni.iiui!  of   his  wedge-forniiid  bill,   tlu- 

,1,.  ,  :oid   i:.  iiif  of  bis  toiiipie,  and  the  strength  iuid 

from  his  nmtil  h:dtits.     In  t':xf.. 


4  ) 


:!   I 


Kai  >(. 


'N^       f^ 


■    ■■!,» 


llii! 


tin 


'■>... 


tS>v 


•rion. 


THE   RRD-IIEADFD   WOOnrKCKER. 


108 


nlarmcd,  ho  soizi'H  a  capital  oiio  by  striking  his  open  bill  deep  into 
it,  and  bears  it  off  to  the  wood-s.  Wludi  the  Indian  corn  U  in  its 
rich,  succnlcnt,  milky  stato,  lit!  attacks  it  with  great  eagerness, 
opening  a  paxsage  through  the  numerous  folds  of  llu;  hunk,  anu 
feeding  on  it  with  voraeity.  The  girdled  or  chNidened  timber,  so 
common  among  corn-Holds  in  the  back  settlements,  are  his  favorite 
retreats,  whence  ho  sallies  out  to  make  his  depredations.  lb;  is 
fond  of  the  ripe  berries  of  tin!  sour  gum,  and  pays  pretty  regular 
visits  to  the  cherry-trees,  when  loaded  with  fruit.  Towards  fall,  he 
often  approaches  the  barn  or  farm-house,  and  raps  on  the  shingles 
and  weather-boards :  ho  is  of  a  gay  and  frolicsome  disposition ;  and 
half  a  dozen  of  tlie  fraternity  luv.  freipiently  seen  diving  and  vocif- 
erating around  the  high,  dead  limbs  of  some  largo  tree,  pursuing 
and  playing  with  each  other,  and  amusing  the  passenger  with  their 
gambols.  Their  note,  or  cry,  is  shrill  and  lively ;  and  so  much 
resembles  that  of  a  species  of  tree-frog,  whicii  frerjuents  the  same 
tr(!0,  that  it  is  sometimes  dillicult  to  distinguish  the  one  from  the 
other. 

"  Such  are  the  vicious  traits,  if  I  may  so  speak,  in  the  character 
of  the  Red-headed  Woodpecker;  and  I  tloubt  not  but,  from  what 
has  been  said  on  this  sidyect,  that  some  readers  would  consider  it 
meritorious  to  exterminate  the  whole  tribe  us  a  nuisance ;  and,  in 
fact,  the  legislatures  of  some  of  our  provinces,  in  former  times, 
otlered  premiums  to  the  amount  of  twopence  per  head  for  their 
destruction.*  IJut  let  us  not  condemn  the  species  unheard :  they 
exist,  they  must  therefore  be  necessary.  If  their  merits  and 
usefulness  bo  found,  on  examination,  to  prejionderate  against  their 
vices,  let  us  avail  ourselves  of  the  former,  while  we  guard  as  well 
as  we  can  against  the  latter. 

"  Though  this  bird  occasionally  regales  himself  on  fruit,  yet  his 
natural  and  most  useful  food  is  insects,  particularly  those  numerous 
and  destructive  species  that  penetrate  the  bark  and  body  of  the 
tree  to  deposit  their  eggs  and  larva?,  the  latter  of  which  are  well 
known  to  make  immense  havoc.  That  insects  are  his  natural  food 
is  evident  from  the  construction  of  his  wedge-formed  bill,  the 
length,  elasticity,  and  figure  of  his  tongue,  and  the  strength  and 
position  of  his  claws,  as  well  as  from  his  usual  habits.     In  fact, 

1  Kalm. 


104 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


insects  form  at  least  two-thirds  of  liis  subsistence ;  and  his  stomach 
is  scarcely  ever  found  witliout  them.     He  searches  for  them  with  a 
dexterity  and  intelligence,  I  may  safely  say,  more  than  human :  he 
perceives,  by  the  exterior  appearance  of  the  bark,  where  they  lurk 
below;  when  he  is  dubious,  he  rattles  vehemently  on  the  outside 
with  his  bill,  and  his  acute  ear  distinguishes  the  terrified  vermin 
shrinking  within  to  their  inmost  retreats,  where  his  pointed  and 
barbed  tongue  soon  reaches  them.     The  masses  of  bugs,  cater- 
pillars, and  otiier  larva},  which  I  have  taken  from  the  stomachs 
of  these  birds,  have  often  surprised  me.     These  larva?,  it  should  be 
remembered,  feed  not  only  on  the  buds,  leaves,  and  blossoms,  but 
on  the  very  vegetable  life  of  the  tree,  —  tlie  alburnum,  or  newly 
forming   bark   and  wood.     The  consequence   is,  that   the  whole 
branches  and  whole  trees  decay  under  the  silent  ravages  of  tliese 
destructive  vermin ;  witness  the  late  destruction  of  many  hundred 
acres  of  pine-trees  in  the  north-eastern  parts  of  South  Carolina, 
and  the  thousands  of  peach-trees  that  yearly  decay  from  the  same 
cause.     Will  any  one  say,  that,  taking  lialf  a  dozen,  or  half  a 
hundred,  apples  from  a  tree,  is  equally  ruinous  with  cutting  it 
down?   or   that   the   services   of  n   useful  animal  should  not" be 
rewarded  witii  a  small  portion  of  that  which  it  has  contributed  to 
preserve  ?     We  are  told,  in  the  benevolent  language  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, not  to  muzzle  the  moutli  of  the  ox  that  treadeth  out  the 
corn;  and  why  should  not  the  same  generous  liberality  be   ex- 
tended to  this  useful  fomily  of  birds,  which  forms  so  powerful  a 
phalanx  against  the  inroads  of  many  millions  of  destructive  ver- 
min ?  " 


1  H', 


About  the  middle  of  May,  tins  species  pairs,  and  soon 
commences  excavating  a  liole  in  a  tree,  eitlier  in  the  woods 
or  orchard,  as  he  is  not  particniar  in  his  choice.  This  work 
is  done  by  both  the  birds,  who  labor  with  industry  and 
cheerfulness  until  the  excavation  is  finished ;  this  is  from 
fourteen  to  eighteen  inches  deep,  and,  like  those  of  other 
woodpeckers,  is  roomy  at  the  bottom,  and  tapering  gi-adually 
to  the  entrance,  which  is  only  largo  enough  for  the  comfort- 
able passage  of  the  bird :  it  is  not  lined,  but  the  bottom  is 
partly  covered  with  chips  from  the  sides  of  the  hole.     The 


THE  GOLDEN-WINGED   WOODPECKER. 


105 


r, 


egge  are  geuerally  five  or  six  in  number,  and  of  a  beautiful 
clear-white.  Dr.  Thompson  says,  in  his  » Birds  of  Ver- 
mont," that  "  they  are  marked  with  reddish  spots  at  the 
large  end."  This  was  a  mistake ;  for  the  eggs  of  wood- 
peckers are  always  immaculate.  The  shell  is  smoother 
than  that  of  any  other  woodpecker's  egg  of  my  acquaint- 
ance. Length  of  specimens  vary  from  1.07  to  1.12  inch 
breadth  from  .77  to  .84  inch.  ' 

COLAPTES,  SwAiNsoN. 

CoMm,  SWAINSON,  Zool.  Jour,  III.  (Dec.  1827)  353  (type  C.  auralus). 

B.  1  slender,  depressed  at  the  base,  then  compressed;  culmen  much  curved,  gonvs 
a^  a.ght,  both  w.th  acute  ridges,  and  coming  to  quite  a  sharp  point  with  tl  e  com- 
m   sure  at  he  end;  the  b.ll  consequently  not  truncate  at  the  end;  no  ridges  on  the 

culmen;  feet  large  the  antenor  outer  toe  considerably  longer  than  the  posterior;  tail 
poiSa.'"''  the  secondanes,  the  feathers  suddenly  acuminate,  with  elongated 

COLAPTES  AUEATUS.  -  Swainson. 
The  Golden. winged  Woodpecker;  Flicker;  Pigeon  Woodpecker. 

^'^'«  "«r<Jtus,  Linn^rus.    Syst.  Nat.  (1766)  174.     Wilson,  Am.  Om.,  I.  (1810)  45. 
Aud.  Orn.  Bjog.,  I.  (1832)  191.  ' 

Description. 
Shafts  and  under  surfaces  of  wing  and  tail  feathers  gamboge-vellow ;  a  black 
patch  on  each  sule  of  the  cheek;  a  red  crescent  on  the  nape;  throat  and  stWpe 
oiTthl  1 1     r^  'f  lilac-brown;  back  glossed  with  olivaceous-green;  fe.nale  wi.h- 

the  in  1  n  ?'f  r'  '  "  "'"'""'■'-■  ^'''''  ™  *•'•'  ^"■'^^•'t'  «"d  rounded  spots  on 
the  belly,  black;  back  and  wnig  coverts  with  interrupted  transverse  bands  of  black- 
neck  above  and  sides  ashy.  ' 

Length,  about  twelve  and  a  half  inches;  wing,  six. 

This  is  a  very  common  summer  inhabitant  of  New  Eng- 
land. It  is  probably  the  most  abundant  of  all  the  wood- 
peckers, and  is  very  generally  known.  It  is  in  the  southern 
districts  of  these  States  a  resident  throughout  the  year; 
and  in  Massachusetts  I  have  often  met  with  it  in  midwinter^ 
when  the  season  was  not  of  the  mildest  either.  They  begii'i 
to  arrive  from  the  south  at  about  the  second  week^ii 
March. 


Ill 


106 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


l       I 


|i  I 


The  habits  of  this  bird  are  so  well  known,  that  any 
description  here  seems  to  be  a  work  of  supererogation. 
About  the  first  week  in  May,  the  males  begin  to  pay  court 
to  the  females  ;  at  this  period  their  movements  arc  amusing. 

*'  Tlieir  note  is  merriment  itself,  as  it  imitates  a  prolonged  and 
jovial  laugh,  heard  at  a  considerable  distance.  Several  males  pur- 
sue a  female,  reach  her,  and,  to  prove  the  force  and  truth  of  their 
love,  bow  their  heads,  spread  their  tails,  and  move  sidewise,  back- 
wards, and  forwai'ds,  performing  such  antics  as  might  induce  any  one 
witnessing  them,  if  not  of  a  most  morose  temper,  to  join  his  laugh 
to  theirs.  The  female  flies  to  another  tree,  where  she  is  closely  fol- 
lowed by  one,  two,  or  even  half  a  dozen  of  these  gay  suitors,  and 
where  again  the  same  ceremonies  are  gone  through.  No  fightings 
occur,  no  jealousies  seem  to  exist  among  these  beaux,  until  a  marked 
preference  is  shown  to  some  individual,  when  the  rejected  proceed 
in  search  of  another  female.  In  this  maimer,  all  the  Golden- 
winged  Woodpeckers  are  soon  happily  mated.  Each  pair  imme- 
diately proceed  to  excavate  the  trunk  of  a  tree,  and  finish  a  hole  in 
it  sufficient  to  contain  themselves  and  their  young.  They  both 
work  with  great  industry  and  appar  nt  pleasure.  Should  the  male, 
for  instance,  be  employed,  the  female  is  close  to  him,  and  congratu- 
lates him  on  the  removal  of  every  chin  which  his  bill  sends 
through  the  air.  "While  he  rests,  he  appears  to  be  speaking  to  her 
on  the  most  tender  subjects,  and  wdien  fatigued  is  at  once  assisted 
by  her.  In  this  manner,  by  the  alternate  exertions  of  each,  the 
hole  is  dug  and  finished."  —  Audubon. 

This  is  often  as  much  as  twenty  inches  in  depth,  and  in 
a  solid  tree  very  often  at  tliat.  On  the  bottom  of  this  liole, 
the  female  lays  six  pure-wdiito  eggs :  tliese  arc  generally  of 
uniform  ovoidal  shape,  and  vary  in  size  from  1  to  I.IG  inch 
in  length,  by  from  .82  to  .92  in  breadth. 

AVlicn  tlie  eggs  ai-e  removed,  the  female,  after  a  couple 
of  days'  deliberation,  lays  another  litter ;  and  I  have  known 
of  this  being  repeated  several  times  by  a  bird  that  was 
unwilling  to  leave  the  nest  whicli  she  and  her  mate  had 
been  at  so  much  labor  to  prepare.    Instances  have  occurred 


>*  ■•■  [  .0r^.mir^ 


'■mmM,:- 


•MB 

Eli     'A\ 

'  1 

1 

e  1 

t  Ml! 


li! 


,  :? 


rii 


apcreroii'atloii 


'itat.es  a  jiroloi'?!?'!  and 
8f!Vt'r:!'    !    .  :      ,  111- 

•         ■     All     Ui    liil.  !i 


111  his  lai^srb 


So  fightings 

.  11  it  iuorkt>r1 

'p  lojeotoil  proc-.i  ■• 


^.^ 


-^- 


i^ 


!iT'i?h  :i  lie''"  in 


,.:    bin    R.-I.'I 


■  io]>fh. 


V  ' 


jJiL- 


GOLDKN-WINOKO    WoODl-ECKKU,   CohnU'S   u,u 


<>/>fes  anrulm.     Swaiiisou. 


i    \ 


\  i 


THE   GOLDEN-WINGED   WOODPECKER. 


107 


of  this  bird's  laying  eiglitecn  or  twenty  egga  in  a  few 
days,  they  being  removed  as  soon  as  laid,  and  only  two  or 
three  being  left  in  the  nest  at  a  time.  The  food  of  tliis  spe- 
cies consists  of  insects,  berries,  and  grains.  Ants  are 
greedily  eaten  by  it,  and  constitute  no  inconsiderable  por- 
tion of  its  diet.  On  visiting  the  nest  at  night,  I  have  very 
seldom  been  able  to  catch  the  old  bird  in  it;  she  almost 
always  heard  my  approach,  and  took  flight :  once  I  caught 
her  on  the  nest ;  but,  as  I  put  my  hand  in  to  secure  her,  she 
attacked  it  with  fierce  pecks  of  her  bill,  and  made  such  an 
onslaught  that  I  was  glad  to  permit  her  to  escape.  But 
one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season. 


108 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


1       i\ 


(!     5 


ORDER  in.  — INSESSORES.    Perchers. 

In  accordance  with  the  views  of  many  systematic  writers, 
it  may  perhaps  be  as  well  to  retain  an  order  Insessores,  and  to 
phice  in  it  the  Stn'sores,  Clamatores,  and  Oscines  as  sub-orders. 
The  characters  of  tiie  order  will  then  consist  chiefly  in  the  posses- 
sion of  three  toes  in  front  and  one  behind  (or,  at  least,  never  with 
two  toes  directed  backwards),  as  in  Scansores.  The  claws  are  not 
retractile,  nor  the  bill  with  a  cere,  as  in  the  liaptores ;  nor  is  the 
hind  toe  situated  appreciably  above  the  plane  of  the  others,  as  in 
Rnsores,  Grallatoi'es,  and  Natatores. 

The  hind  toe  of  the  Insessores  corresponds  to  the  thumb  or 
inner  toe  of  the  mammals,  and  is  usually  quite  short.  The  joints 
of  the  anterior  toes  generally  follow  the  law  of  number  character- 
istic of  birds ;  namely,  two  to  the  hinder,  three  to  the  iiuier,  four 
to  the  middle,  and  five  to  the  outer  toes :  but  a  deviation  is  seen  in 
some  Strisores,  where  there  are  sometimes  but  three  joints  each  to 
the  anterior  toes,  and  sometimes  only  four  in  the  outer.  The  tarsi 
are  generally  covered  anteriorly  with  plates,  and  furnished  behind 
with  granulations  or  small  scales,  or  else  with  two  long  plates 
covering  the  sides,  the  latter  feature  especially  characteristic  of  the 
Oscines,  or  singing-birds  :  in  the  latter  alone  is  the  tarsus  some- 
times covered  anteriorly  with  a  single  plate.  Sometimes  the  tarsus 
is  entirely  or  partly  naked,  or  destitute  of  plates  altogether. 

The  carpal  joint  or  the  hand  part  of  the  wing  is  in  most 
Insessores  furnished  with  ten  quills  (primaries),  although  the  first 
quill  is  sometimes  very  short,  or  even  entirely  wanting,  as  in  many 
Oscines.  The  fore-arm  has  from  six  (in  the  Humming-birds)  to 
thirteen  quills,  the  average  being  eight  or  nine. 

There  are  certain  peculiarities  in  the  arrangement  of  he 
wing  coverts  of  the  diflFerent  sub-orders  of  Insessores,  constitutintT 
important  distinctive  features.  Some  of  these  will  be  hereafter 
referred  to. 


P 


III, 


ORDER   III.  —  INSES80RES. 


109 


The  tail  of  the  Insessores  exhibits  considerable  differences. 
Tlie  number  of  feathers  is  usually  twelve ;  sometimes  ten  only,  as 
in  the  Strisores. 

The  different  groups  of  the  order  Insessores  are  subject  to  con- 
siderable variations  in  respect  to  the  structure  of  the  lower  larynx 
attached  to  the  trachea  or  windpipe  just  anterior  to  its  division 
into  the  two  bronchial  tubes.  Cuvier  long  since  showed,  that  the 
true  singing-birds  had  the  larynx  provided  with  a  peculiar  appa- 
ratus for  the  purpose  of  effecting  a  modulation  of  the  voice, 
composed  of  five  pairs  of  muscles,  of  which  other  birds  were 
destitute  in  greater  part,  or  entirely.  The  characteristic  of  the 
groups  Strisores,  Clamntores,  and  Oscines,  and  of  their  subdivisions, 
as  will  be  shown  hereafter,  depend  very  much  on  these  peculiarities 
of  the  larynx. 

The  tongue  of  the  Insessores  varies  to  a  considerable  degree. 
In  the  Humming-birds,  it  is  thread-like  and  bifurcated.  In  most 
other  insessorial  or  perching  birds,  it  is  long  or  short,  flat,  and 
triangular,  the  posterior  extremity  bilobed,  the  anterior  usually 
with  the  tip  horny,  serrated,  or  with  fibres,  more  rarely  smooth. 
These  furnish  important  characteristics  for  the  division  into  families, 
and  even  genera ;  the  variations  being  quite  considerable. 

See  Introduction,  and  vol.  IX.,  Pacific  R.R.  Reports,  128. 


-  ^m 


T\ 


110 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


SUB-ORDER  STRISORES. 


Family  TROCIIILIDvE.     Tin:  IIumming-kirds. 

There  is  no  group  of  birds  so  interesting  to  tlic  ornilliologist  or  to  tlio  casual 
observer  ns  the  Humming-birds;  at  once  the  smallest  in  size,  the  most  gorgcouslv 
beautiful  in  color,  and  almost  the  most  abundant  in  species  of  any  single  family  of 
birds.  They  are  strictly  coiifnied  to  (he  continent  and  islands  of  America,  and  are 
most  abundant  in  the  Central-American  States;  though  single  species  range  almost 
to  the  Arctic  regions  on  the  north  and  to  I'atagonia  on  the  south,  as  well  as  from 
the  scacoast  to  the  frozen  summit?  of  the  Andes.  The  number  of  known  species 
considerably  exceeds  three  hundred,  and  new  ones  are  being  constantly  brought  to 
light;  so  that  an  estimate  of  four  hundred  species  is,  perhaps,  not  too  largo.  Manv 
are  very  limited  in  their  range;  some  confined  to  particular  islands,  even  though  of 
small  dimensions. 

The  bill  of  the  Humming-bird  is  awl-shaped  or  subulate,  thin,  and  sharp- 
pointed,  straight  or  curved;  sometimes  as  long  as  the  head,  sometimes  much 
longer.  The  mandibles  are  excavated  to  the  tip  for  the  lodgement  of  the  tongue, 
and  tbrm  a  tube  by  the  close  apposition  of  tlieir  cutting  edges.  There  is  no  indica- 
tion of  stiir  bristly  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  mouth.  The  tongue  has  some  resem- 
blance to  that  of  the  Woodpeckers  in  the  elongation  of  the  corniia  backwards, 
so  as  to  pass  round  the  back  of  the  skull,  and  then  anteriorly  to  the  base  of  the 
bill.  The  tongue  itself  is  of  very  peculiar  structure,  consisting  anteriorly  of  two 
hollow  threads  closed  at  the  ends  and  united  behind.  The  food  of  the  Humming- 
bird consists  almost  entirely  of  insects,  which  are  captured  by  protruding  the  tongue 
into  flowers  of  various  shapes,  without  opening  the  bill  very  wide. 

The  wings  of  the  Humming-birds  are  long  and  falcate;  the  shafts  very  strong; 
the  primaries  usually  ten  in  number,  the  first  always  longest;  there  are  six  seconda- 
ries. The  tail  has  but  ten  feathers.  The  feet  are  small;  the  claws  ver)-  nharp  and 
strong.i 

The  species  known  to  inhabit  the  United  States,  though  few,  are  yet  nearly  twice 
as  many  as  given  by  Mr.  Audubon.  It  is  probable  that  additional  ones  will  here- 
after be  detected,  particularly  on  our  southern  borders. 

The  different  authors  who  have  made  a  specialty  of  the  Humming-birds  have 
named  a  great  many  sub-families  and  genera ;  but  there  has  as  yet  been  no  published 
systematic  description  of  the  higher  groups.    It  is  probable  that  the  North-Ameri- 


1  Most  of  the  above  general  remarks  are  borrowed  from  Burmeister  (Thiere  Bra- 
silicns,  Vogel,  311),  to  which  I  would  refer  for  an  excel:  nt  article  on  the  structure 
and  habits  of  Humming-birds. 


Ml 


THK   IIUUY-TIIUOATED   HUMMING-DIRD. 


Ill 


can  specie*  belong  to  two  (liflfercnt  siib-fnmilics,  —  tho  Larnpomitli trice  and  the  Tro- 
chiliiite,  —  and  to  at  leant  lour  Rcncra;  but  tho  preciiM!  character  ond  limitn'of  thege  I 
am  unable  to  fjive.  Tho  t'ollowinp  rcnuirks,  howuvir,  may  serve  to  sketch  out  the 
characters  of  tho  North-American  species :  — 

A.  Ednes  of  mandible  serrated  near  tho  end  j  throat  without  metallic,  scale-like 
feathers. 

Liim/H)rnis,—  lVi\\  depressed,  slightly  curved;  tail  broad,  slightly  cmnrginnte,  the 
outer  feather  os  broad  as  tho  rest;  wings  reaching  the  tip  of  tail;  no  metallic 
feathers  on  the  throat. 

H.  r.dges  of  inundiblo  nearly  even  towards  the  tip,  without  distinct  serrations; 
throat  with  nu^tallic,  scole-likc  feathers. 

Triichilui.  —  Keutliers  of  throat  but  little  elongated  laterally;  lateral  tail  feathers 
but  little  narrower  than  the  others,  and  laneeoliite-acute;  tail  forked. 

Selasphonts. —  Feathers  of  the  tliroat  much  elongated  laterally  into  a  ruff;  lateral 
tail  feathers  much  narrower  than  the  middle  ones,  and  linear  in  shape,  or  with  the 
sides  parallel  to  tho  end,  which  is  roiiniled;  tail  graduated  or  cuneatc;  outer  primary 
attenuated  at  tho  tip;  crown  without  metallic  scales. 

Aulas.  —  Similar  to  the  last,  but  tho  top  of  the  head  with  metallic  scales  like  tho 
throat;  tho  outer  primary  not  attenuated;  fail  emarginated,  or  deeply  forked. 


TROCIIILUS,  LiNN.EUS. 


TROCHILUS  COLUBEIS— Zi/m(Bus. 
The  Euby-throated  Humming-bird. 

Trochilus  cohihrh,  WnnxxiB.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (IT'''!)  lUl.    Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  II. 
(1810)  20.    Aud.  Orn.  Hiog.,  I.  (1832)  248.      lb.,  I'.irds  Amer.,  IV.  (*.S42)  1'jO. 
Ornkimja  culubria,  Deville.    Kov.  et.  Mag.  Zool.  (May,  1(552)  (habits). 

DEScmmoN. 

Tail  in  the  male  deeply  forked,  the  feathers  all  narrow  lanceolate-acute;  in  the 
females  lightly  rounded  and  euuirgiiuito;  the  feathers  broader,  though  pointed;  male, 
uuil'orm  metallic-green  above;  a  ruby-red  gcrget  with  no  c(ins|iicuoiis  rutf;  a  white 
collar  on  tho  throat;  siiles  of  b(jdy  greenish;  tail  feathers  uniformly  brownish-violet; 
female,  without  the  red  on  the  throat;  the  tail  is  rounded  and  emarginate,  the 
inner  feathers  shorter  than  the  outer;  the  tail  feathers  banded  with  black,  and 
the  outer  tipped  with  white;  no  rufous  or  ciimamon  on  the  tail  in  either  sex. 

Length,  tliree  and  twenty-live  one  hundredths  inch ;  wing,  one  and  sixty  one- 
hundredths;  tail,  one  and  twenty-live  onc-huudredths  inch;  bill,  sixty-live  one- 
hundrcdths. 


T 


HIS  beautiful  little  winged  gem  is  distributed  through- 
out New  England  as  a  summer  visitor.  It  arrives 
from  tho  south  from  about  tho  15th  to  the  25th  of  May, 
according  to  latitude,  and  usually  in  pairs.  The  first  notice 
that  wo  have  of  his  arrival  is  a  humming  sound,  and  now 


pii 


till 


112 


ORNITnOLO(JY   AND   OOLOGY. 


and  then  a  sliarp  cliirj),  like  that  of  a  hvrgo  bcotlo,  among 
tlio  earliest  lluwons  In  the  garden.  We  h)ok  in  the  direction 
of  the  sound,  and  porcoivo  our  little  stranger  darting  about, 


and  thrusting  liis  bill  and  little   head   into   the   flowers, 

busily  searching  fur  the  small  insects  that  inhabit  them, 

and  which  constitute  the  princi[)al  |)art  of  liis  food.     While 

we  are  looking  at  him,  he   suddenly  alights   on   a  twig, 

turns  hM  gorgeous  throat  towards  us,  and  scans  us  with 

his  bi  ght  little  black  oyes.     While  he  is  perched,  he  busies 

himself  in  arranging  his  plumage,  and  cleaning  from  his 

feathers  the  drops  of  dew  tliat  have  perhaps  fallen  upon 

him,  uttuiing  occasionally  his  merry  chirp;   presently  his 

.mate  appears,  and  alights  liy  his  side.    The  little  lovers  (for 

they  are  still  such)  then  indulge  in  mutual  caresses,  and 

apparently  talk  over  with  much  earnestness  their  plans  for 

future  housekeeping.     Woe  to  another  hununing-bird,  if  ho 

comes  in  sight!    for  our  little   friend  is  not  only  jealous 

of  his  mate,  but  is  very  quarrelsome  also,  and  protects  his 

honor  with  great  courage.     As  he  darts  off  like  a  bullet  at 

the  intruder,  his  mate  watches  with  no  little  interest  for  the 

results  of  the  battle  that  is  incvitalde.     The  two  males  meet 

in  the  air,  and  fierce  is  the  contest ;  their  little  wings  beat 

the  air  with  such  force  that  their  humming  is  heard  at  the 


THE   nUBY-TIIROATi:r)    IHIMMINCMlinD. 


118 


distance  of  several  ruds ;  »ip  they  mount,  rushinj;  aj^ainst 
and  Htrikiiig  eaeh  other  with  their  Hliarp  little  hills,  until 
they  are  hoth  lost  to  the  sight:  presently  our  ae(iuaintaneo 
descends  to  the  twig  where  his  mate  is  seated,  and  struts 
hefore  her  with  a  pride  much  hug(!r  than  his  body,  aj)- 
parently  anxious  for  her  approval  of  his  coiiriige.  Siio 
caresses  him ;  and,  after  he  has  adjusted  his  plumage,  oil' 
they  shoot  for  other  scenes  and  pleasures.^ 

Ahout  the  first  week  in  .June,  the  llunnning-bird  com- 
mences building  its  nest:  this  is  composed  of  a  soft  down, 
that  is  taken  from  the  stems  of  some  of  the  ferns ;  it  is 
covered  entiicly  with  liciiens,  which  ai-e  glued  on  with  the 
saliva  of  the  bird,  giving  it  the  appearance  of  a  mossy  knot. 
It  is  usually  built  on  the  upper  side  of  a  limb ;  but  1  have 
known  of  cases  of  its  l)eing  built  in  a  forked  twig.  The 
whole  fabric  is  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and 
about  that  in  depth  externally ;  it  is  hollowed  about  half  an 
inch,  and  is  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter  internally; 
it  is  lined  with  soft,  downy  substances  detached  from  flying 
seeds.  The  eggs  are  two  in  numl)er,  white,  and  nearly 
elliptical  in  shape,  being  of  about  equal  size  at  both  ends. 
Length  of  eggs,  about  .45  inch ;  l)readth,  al)out  .31  inch.  I 
am  inclined  to  think,  that,  in  the  latitude  of  New  England, 
this  bird  raises  only  one  brood  in  the  season ;  but  further 
south  it  undoubtedly  rears  two.  The  period  of  incubation 
is  ten  days. 

On  a])proaching  the  nest,  the  parent  l)ird  immediately 
flies  at  the  intruder ;  and  it  was  by  this  means  that  I  have 
been  enabhid  to  find  specimens  of  the  nests,  when  I  could 
not  possibly  have  done  so  if  their  locality  had  not  been 
betrayed  by  the  bird  herself.  1  have  heard  of  young  birds 
being  taken  from  the  nest  when  nearly  fledged,  kept  for 
several  weeks,  and  led  with  nothing  but  sweetened  water ; 


II 


1  I  lind  written  tliis  ineidpnt  bpfoic  I  noticed  tlie  similar  one  piven  hy  Wilson.  I 
will  let  it  remain,  however,  because  it  is  an  instance  of  scenes  common  in  the  life 
of  this  bird. 


J   '      ! 


114 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I'^fl 


but  they  always  died  after  a  short  courincracnt,  and  I  believe 
that  it  is  im{)ossiblo  to  kcc})  tliis  bird  as  a  pet,  Irom  the 
fact  that  its  actual  fuod  is  insects,  and  it  cannot  live  on  any 
other. 

Wilson  gives  the  following  facts  in  relation  to  this.     He 
says :  — 

"  Tlie  singularity  of  this  little  bird  has  induced  many  persons  to 
attenij^t  to  raise  tiiem  from  the  nest,  and  accustom  tliom  to  tlie 
cage.  Mv.  Coffer,  of  Fairfax  County,  Va.,  a  gentleman  wlio  has 
paid  great  attention  to  the  manners  and  i)eculiarities  of  our  native 
birds,  told  me  that  lie  raised  and  kept  two,  for  some  months,  iu  a 
cage,  supplying  them  with  lioney  di'-solved  in  water,  on  which  they 
readily  fed.  As  the  sweetness  the  licjuid  frequently  brought 
small  flies  and  gnats  about  the  ,.age  and  cup,  the  birds  amused 
themselves  by  snapping  at  them  on  wing,  and  swallowing  tliem 
with  eagerness,  so  that  tliese  insects  formed  no  inconsiderable  part 
of  their  food.  Mr.  Charles  Wilson  Peale,  proprietor  of  the 
Museum,  tells  me  that  he  had  two  young  Humming-birds,  which 
he  raised  from  the  nest.  They  used  to  fly  about  the  room,  and 
would  frequently  perch  on  Mrs.  Peale's  shoulder  to  be  fed.  When 
the  sun  shone  strongly  in  the  chamber,  he  has  observed  them  dart- 
ing after  the  motes  that  floated  in  the  light,  as  Flycatchers  would 
after  flies.  In  the  summer  of  1803,  a  nest  of  young  Ilunmiing- 
birds  was  brought  me,  that  were  nearly  fit  to  lly.  One  of  them 
actually  Hew  out  by  the  window  the  same  evening,  and,  falling 
against  a  wall,  was  killed.  The  other  refused  food,  and  the  next 
morning  I  could  but  just  perceive  that  it  bad  life.  A  lady  in  the 
house  undertook  to  be  its  nurse,  placed  it  in  her  bosom,  and,  as  it 
began  to  revive,  dissolved  a  little  sugar  in  her  mouth,  into  which 
she  thrust  its  bill,  and  it  sucked  with  great  avidity.  In  this  man- 
ner, it  was  brought  up  until  fit  for  the  cage.  I  kept  it  upwards 
of  three  months,  supplied  it  with  loaf  sugar  dissolved  in  water, 
which  it  preferred  to  honey  and  Avater,  gave  it  fresh  fiowers  every 
morning  sprinkled  with  the  liquid,  and  surrounded  the  space  in 
which  I  kept  it  with  gauze,  that  it  might  not  injure  itself.  It 
appeared  gay,  active,  and  full  of  spirit,  hovering  from  flower  to 
flower  as  if  in  its  native  wilds ;  and  always  expressed,  by  its 
motions  and  chirping,  great  pleasure  at  seeing  fresh  flowers  intro- 


I  i 


THE  RUBY-THROATED   HUMMING-BIRD. 


115 


dnced  to  its  cage.  Numbers  of  people  visited  it  from  motives  of 
curiosity ;  and  I  took  every  precaution  to  preserve  it,  if  possible, 
tlirough  the  winter.  Unfortunately,  however,  by  some  means  it 
got  at  large ;  and,  flying  about  the  room,  so  injured  itself  that  it 
soon  after  died. 

"  This  little  bird  is  extremely  susceptible  of  cold  ;  and,  if  long 
deprived  of  the  animating  influence  of  the  sunbeams,  droops,  and 
soon  dies.      A  very  beautiful   male  was  brought  me  this  season 
(1809),  which   I  put  into  a  wire  cage,  and  placed  in  a  retired, 
shaded  part  of  the  room.     After  fluttering  about  for  some  time,  the 
weather  being  uncommonly  cool,  it  clung  by  the  wires,  and  hung  in 
a  seemingly  torpid  state  for  a  whole  forenoon.     No  motion  what- 
ever of  the  lungs  could  be  perceived,  on   the  closest  insj    ction, 
though,  at  other  times,  this  is  remarkably  observable ;  the  eyes 
were  shut ;    and,  when  touched  by  the  finger,  it  gave  no  signs 
of  life  or  motion.     I  carried  it  out  to  the  open  air,  and  placed  it 
directly  in  the  rays  of  the  sun,  in  a  sheltered  situation.     In  a  few 
seconds,   respiration   became   very   apparent;    the   bird   breathed 
faster  and  faster,  opened  its  eyes,  and  began  to  look  about,  with  as 
much  seeming  vivacity  as  ever.     After  it  had  completely  recov- 
ered, I  restored  it  to  liberty ;  and  it  flew  off  to  the  withered  top 
of  a  pear-tree,  where  it  sat  for  some  time  dressing  its  disordered 
plumage,  and  then  shot  off  like  a  meteor." 

About  tlio  latter  part  of  August,  or  perhaps  by  the  8th  or 
10th  of  September,  the  Ilumnuug-bird  takes  his  departure 
for  the  south.  Tlie  youug  bu-ds  travel  with  their  parents, 
or,  at  any  rate,  leave  this  section  with  them;  for  I  luive 
invariably  noticed  tliat  these  little  groups  were  together  up 
to  the  time  when  they  left.  The  parents  return  to  the  same 
breeding-place  in  the  succeeding  year;  and  I  have  known  of 
a  pair  breeding  on  the  same  apple-tree  for  three  successive 
seasons. 


pi 

1,1.  ^ 

|1   ; 

K  1 

n  i 

1 

Hi" 

■-     '         f 

. 

^H 

I^H 

H 

ffl 

^^H  ' 

■  'ill 

^H 

^^H 1 
^^^B'  '' 

■I 

1 

^^^H 

^ 

^^^m 

'  >  jyi 

^m  i 

if 

^^^M 

■*  Im 

H  * 

r 

H  1 

f  'i! 

11 


II 


^;i 


116 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  CYPSELIDiE.    The  Swifts. 

Bill  ver>'  small,  without  notch,  triangular,  much  hroader  than  high,  the  eulmen 
not  one-sixth  the  gape;  anterior  toes  cletl  to  the  base,  each  with  three  joints  (in  the 
typical  .xpccies),  and  covered  with  skin,  tlie  middle  claw  without  any  serrations, 
tlu:  lateral  toes  nearly  equal  to  the  middle;  bill  without  bristles,  but  with  minute 
feathers  extending  along  the  under  margin  of  the  nostrils;  nostrils  elongated,  supe- 
rior, and  very  close  together;  plumage  compact;  primaries  ten,  elongated,  falcate. 


CIIiETURA,  Stephens. 

Ch(Ttura,  Stephens.  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  Birds,  XIIL  (1825)  76  (type  C. 
pelnsi/in). 

Tail  verj'  short,  scarcely  more  than  two-fifths  the  wings,  slightly  rounded,  tiie 
shafts  stiffened  and  extending  some  distance  beyond  the  feathers  in  a  rigid  spine; 
first  primary  longest;  legs  covered  by  a  naked  skin,  witliout  scutelhu  or  feathers; 
tarsus  longer  than  middle  toe;  lateral  toes  equal,  nearly  as  long  as  the  middle;  hind 
toe  scarcely  versatile,  or  quite  posterior,  with  the  claw,  less  than  the  middle  anterior 
without  it ;  toes  slender,  claws  moderate ;  feathers  of  the  base  of  the  bill  not  extend- 
ing beyond  the  beginning  of  the  nostrils. 


'         !    f 


!'  m 


I  \ 


h* 


CH2ETUEA  PELASGIA.  —  Stephens. 
The  Chimney  Swallow. 

Hirundo  pehsgia,  Linnosus.  Syst.  Nat.  L  (176G)  345.  Wils.  Am.  Orn.  V. 
(1812)  48. 

Qipfehis  pelnsgia,  Audubon.  Orn.  Biog.  I[.  (1834)  329;  V.  419. 

Chcctnra  pttasgia,  Stephens.  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.  Birds,  XIIL  (1825)  76. 

Description. 

Tail  slightly  rounded ;  of  a  sooty-brown  all  over,  except  on  the  throat,  which 
becomes  considerably  lighter  from  the  breast  to  the  bill;  above  with  a  greenish 
tinge;  the  rump  a  little  paler. 

Length,  five  and  a  quarter  inches ;  wing,  five  ten  one-hundredths ;  tail,  two  fltleen 
onc-huudredths. 

THIS  well-known  bird  is  a  common  summer  inhabitant 
of  Now  England.  It  arrives  in  great  iuiin})ers  from 
the  South,  about  the  1st  to  the  10th  of  May.  Immediately 
on  arriving,  tlio  birds  i)air,  and  commence  l)uilding.  Tho 
nest  is  usually  constructed  in  an  unused  flue  of  a  chimney ; 
but,  before  the  country  was  settled,  they  bred,  and  I  liave  no 


u: 


1   i 
i 


•4. 


m 


THE   CHIMNEY  SWALLOW, 


117 


doiibt  that  great  immbcrs  of  them  in  thinly  settled  districts 
etill  breed  in  hollow  trees.     The  nest  is  composed  of  twigs, 
which  arc  glued  together  and  to  the  side  of  the  chimuV 
with  the  saliva  of  the  bird.     It  is  lined  with  a  few  feathers 
and  straws.     The  strength  of  these  structures  is  wonderful ; 
and  they  are  so  durable  that  I  have  known  of  instances 
of  their  remaining  in  the  chimney  during  three  seasons. 
Usually,  the  bird  displays  great  sagacity  in  the  clioice  of  a 
location  for  a  nest,  in  securing  protection  from  storms  and 
from  the  attacks  of  animals ;  but  occasionally  the  nest  is 
built  in  a  chimney,  open   at  the  top  sufficiently  wide   to 
permit  tlie  rain  to  trickle  down  the  sides :  the  result  is,  that 
the  moisture  softens  the  glue  by  wliicli  the  nest  is  attached 
to  tlie  chimney,  and  it  is,  wit.,  its  living  contents,  precii)i- 
tated  to  the  bottom.     Again,  if  the  nest  is  built  too  low  in 
the  chimney,  the  young  or  eggs  furnish  agreeable  food  for 
rats,  which,  unfortunately,  are  sometimes  found  in  dwelling- 
houses  in  the  country  in  uncomfortable  immbers.    The  eggs 
are  generally  four  or  five  in  number,  pure-whiti;  in  coku-, 
rather  long  in  shape.     Dimensions  of  five  eggs,  in  a  nest 
collected  in  Upton,  Me. :  .84  by  .4-1  incli,  .81  by  .40  inch, 
.80  by  .40  inch,  .78  by  .48  inch,  .70  by  .51  inch. 

Tills  species  is  almost  nocturnal  in  its  habits.  From  earli- 
est dawn  until  seven  or  eight  in  the  morning,  it  is  busy  in 
the  pursuit  of  insects :  it  tlien  retires  to  its  roosting-i)laces 
in  the  cliimncys,  and  is  seldom  seen  until  late  in  the  after- 
noon. From  early  twilight  until  late  in  the  night,  it  is  again 
actively  employed ;  and,  having  heard  its  notes,  as  it  Tped 
through  the  air,  often  as  late  as  midnight,  I  have  no  doubt 
tliat,  in  pleasant  weather,  it  is  busy  through  the  whole 
night. 

^  In  descending  the  chimneys  where  their  young  are,  the 

birds  fly  rapidly  until  they  are  immediately  over  them,  when, 

partially  closing  their  wings,  they  drop  suddenly,  and  with' 

api)arent  case,  down  the  flue. 

Ill  ascending,  the  noise  of  their  wings  in  the  chimney  is 


♦  ^  I 


118 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


jl 


M' ' 

7w: 

i  -:  I  ' 

like  that  of  distant  tliuudor.  The  flight  of  these  birds  is 
very  rapid,  surpassing,  I  think,  that  of  any  other  spceies : 
it  is  so  peculiar,  —  the  long  wings  vibrating  in  short,  quick, 
energetic  strokes,  —  that  it  furnishes  a  ready  means  of  dis- 
tinguisliing  it,  from  all  other  sjieeies,  at  a  great  height. 

About  sunset,  the  great  multitudes  of  these  birds  arc  out, 
and  tlie  numbers  of  insects  they  destroy  must  bo  immense. 
Everywhere  they  may  bo  seen :  away  up  in  the  blue  sky,  as 
'far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  they  are  coursing  in  wide-extended 
circles,  chasing  eacli  otiier  in  sport,  and  even  caressing  and 
feeding  their  mates  while  on  the  wing;  a  little  lower,  they 
are  spee(Ung  over  the  tops  of  the  trees,  gleaning  the  insects 
that  have  just  left  the  foliage ;  over  the  surface  of  the  lake 
or  river  they  fly  so  low,  in  the  pursuit  of  aquatic  insects, 
that  their  wings  often  Uaich  the  water;  everywhere  they 
are  busy.  Truly,  tliey  are  deserving  of  much  better  treat- 
ment than  they  too  often  receive  at  the  hands  of  the  farmer, 
to  whom  they  are  his  best  friends ;  yet  it  is  a  fact,  that,  in 
a  great  many  sections,  they  are  driven  from  the  chimneys 
of  the  farm-houses,  and  even  destroyed,  at  every  op})or- 
tuiiity. 

About  the  last  of  August,  the  Chinmey  Swallow,  in  la'-go 
scattered  iloeks,  leaves  for  the  South,  and  spends  the  winter 
in  Honduras  and  the  "West  Indies.  On  returning  in  the 
spring,  the  same  i)ai''  occupies  the  chimney  used  in  the  pre- 
vious season,  as  has  been  proved  by  actual  observation. 


111! 


I 


THE   WHIPPOORWILL. 


119 


Family  CAPRIMULGIDiE.    Tin:  Goat-suckers. 
Suh-Fumili/  CaprimulgixvE. 

Rill  very  short,  triaHguUir,  the  culmeii  less  than  one-sixtli  the  gaiie;  tlie  anterior 
toes  united  at  the  base  by  a  iiionibraue;  the  inner  anterior  toe  witli  tlirce  joints,  the 
others  witli  four,  all  with  distinct  seutidla-  above;  the  toe  n.in'h  elon^Mted,  its  middle 
daw  pectinated  on  tlie  inner  edi;e;  iiind  Un'  directed  a  little  more  than  halt' I'or- 
wards;  tarsi  partly  leathered  sniieriorly ;  the  bill  more  or  less  bristled,  the  nostrils 
separated,  rather  nearer  the  connnissure  than  the  culnien;  plumage  soft,  lax,  and 
owl-like;  i)rimaiy  quilJs,  ten;  secondaries,  eleven  or  twelve. 

AKTROSTOMUS,  Golm>. 

Anfroslpimis,  Gould.    leones  Avium  (1S.3S),  Agassiz, 

Bill  remarkably  small,  with  tubular  nostrils,  and  the  pipe  with  lonj;,  stilT,  some- 
times pectinated,  bristles;  wind's  long,  somewhat  rounded,  second  quill  longest,  the 
primaries  emarginated;  tail  rounded;  plumage  loose  and  soil. 

ANTEOSTOMUS   VOCIFERHS.  -  Bonajiavte. 

The  Whippoorwill. 

Cajmmulgus  rodferus,  Wilson.  Am.  drn.,  V.  (1812)  71;  And.  Orn.  Biog.,  I. 
(1832)443;  V.  405. 

Antrusloiaus  voci/crus,  Bonai)arte.     List,  1S38. 

DksCHII'TIOX. 

Bristles  without  lateral  filaments;  wiuf,'  about  six  and  a  half  inches  long;  top  of 
the  head  ashy-brown,  longitudinally  streaked  with  black;  terminal  half  of  the  tail 
feathers  (except  the  four  central)  dirty-white  on  both  outer  and  inner  webs;  iris  dark- 
hazel.     Fenude,  without  white  on  the  tail. 

Length,  ten  inches;  wing,  six  and  a  half. 

Tins  familiar  species  is  a  summer  inliabitant  of  New 
Eiijilaiul :  it  arrives  fi'om  the  South  al)out  the  second 
week  in  :May.  Its  habits  at-e  not  well  known,  as  it  is  not  a 
very  common  species,  aiul  i,  inhabits  the  most  secliuled  sjtots 
in  the  deep  woods ;  but  its  song  is  Avell  known  to  all,  as  arc 
its  noctiiriiid  w.iuderings  in  search  for  insect  food.  This 
bird,  us  tilso  the  Night-hawk,  is,  to  the  farmer,  one  of  the 
most  Viilualile  among  the  feathered  tribes:  its  food  consists 
almost  entirely  of  night-Hying  Lcpidopteni,  and  the  number 
of  these  insects  destroyed  is  ianuensc. 


...  J.„,.J      , 

■      iT 

'•:fu 

Si 

Jill,' 


t 


120 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND  OOLOGY. 


The  peculiar  song  of  this  bird  is  heard  at  early  eve,  and 
until  late  into  the  night,  during  the  mating  and  ])art  of  the 
breeding  seasons.  It  is  not  uttered  in  the  deptlis  of  the  wil- 
derness alone;  but  the  bird,  perching  on  the  well-sweep,  on- 
the  eaves  of  a  low  shed,  or  even  on  the  door-sill  of  the  farm- 
er's house,  pours  out  its  melancholy  strain.  The  descrip- 
tion, by  Alexander  Wilson,  of  tlie  habits  of  this  bird,  is  so 
accurate  and  comi>rehensive,  tliat  I  will  not  presume  to 
attempt  another.     lie  says :  — 

''  Tlie  notes  seem  pretty  plainly  to  articulate  the  words  which 
have  been  generally  applied  to  Uiem,  ivliip-poor-will,  the  first  and 
last  syllables  being  uttered  with  great  emphasis,  and  the  whole  in 
about  a  second  to  each  repetition  ;  but,  when  two  or  more  males 
meet,  their  whip-poor-will  altercai '.»:  s  become  much  more  rapid 
and  incessant,  as  if  each  were  straining  to  overpower  or  silence  the 
other.  "When  near,  you  often  hear  an  introductory  cluck  between 
the  riotes.  At  these  times,  as  well  as  at  almost  all  others,  tliey  fly 
low,  not  more  than  a  few  feet  from  the  surface,  skimming  about  the 
house  and  before  the  door,  alighting  on  the  wood-pile,  or  settling  on 
the  roof.  Towards  midnight,  they  generally  become  silent,  unless 
in  clear  moonliglit,  when  they  are  heard,  with  little  intermission, 
till  morning.  If  there  be  a  creek  near,  with  hi<j;h,  precipitous, 
bushy  banks,  they  are  sure  to  be  found  in  such  situations.  Dtu-ing 
the  day,  they  sit  in  the  most  retired,  solitary,  and  deep-shaded  parts 
of  the  woods,  generally  on  high  ground,  where  they  repose  in 
silence.  When  disturbed,  tliey  rise  within  a  few  feet,  sail  low  and 
slowly  through  the  woods  for  thirty  or  forty  yards,  and  generally 
settle  on  a  low  branch  or  on  the  ground.  Their  sight  appears 
deficient  during  the  day,  as,  like  owls,  they  seem  then  to  want  that 
vivacity  for  which  they  are  distinguished  in  the  morning  and  even- 
ing twilight.  They  are  rarely  shot  at  or  molested  ;  and,  from  being 
thus  transiently  seen  in  the  obscurity  of  dusk,  or  in  the  deep  um- 
brage of  the  woods,  no  wonder  their  j)articular  markings  of  ])lumajj;e 
should  be  so  little  known,  or  that  they  should  be  confounded  with 
the  Night-hawk,  whom,  in  general  appearance,  they  so  much  re- 
semble. The  female  begins  to  lay  abo\it  the  second  week  in  IMay, 
selecting,  for  this  purpose,  the  most  uniiLNjuented  i)ait  of  the  wood, 


¥ 


\m 


THE  WIIIPPOORWILL. 


121 


often  where  some  brush,  okl  logs,  heaps  of  leaves,  &c.,  had  been 
lying,  and  always  on  a  dry  situation." 

The  Wliippoorwill  constructs  no  nest,  but  lays  its  eggs, 
which  are  two  in  number,  in  a  slight  hollow  which^'it 
scratches  in  the  earth,  usually  near  a  rock,  or  lalleu  trunk 
of  a  tree.  These  eggs  are  of  an  elliptical  form,  being  as 
largo  at  one  end  as  at  the  other ;  their  ground-color  is  a 
delicate  creamy-white,  with  blotches,  lines,  and  spots  of 
ditlerent  shades  of  light-brown  and  lavender :  takoi  alto- 
gether, it  is  one  of  the  handsomest  eggs  found  in  New  Eng- 
land. The  length  of  several  specimens  before  me  varies 
from  1.21  to  2.27  inches,  breadth  from  .75  to  .79  inch.  The 
bird  commences  laying  about  the  last  week  in  May,  and  the 
period  of  incubation  is  fourteen  days. 

Tlie  young  are  soon  able  to  walk,  and  in  a  very  few  days 
can  run  with  considerable  speed  ;  and  they  hide  with  such 
adroitness  that  it  is  a  work  of  no  little  dihiculty  to  capture 
them.  The  female,  when  her  young  are  discovered,  imme- 
diately throws  herself  before  the  intruder,  counterfeiting 
lameness  so  well,  that,  nnlcss  he  is  well  acquainted  with 
the  habits  of  birds,  he  will  quickly  be  misled  into  following 
her.  As  soon  as  the  young  l)irds  are  able  to  shift  for  them- 
selves, they  are  turned  adrift  by  their  parents,  and  are  seen 
only  singly,  or  at  most  in  pairs,  during  the  remainder  of 
their  stay.  By  the  latter  part  of  August,  or  seldom  later 
than  the  lOtli  of  September,  all  of  them  depart  for  the 
Soutli,  the  old  males  remaining  a  few  days  later  ;  littering, 
occasionally,  their  song,  but  always  in  the  woods,  or  in 
localities  far  removed  from  human  habitation. 


CIIORDEILES,  SwAiNsoN. 

SwAiNSON.    Fauna  Ror.  Anicr.  (1S31)  486. 

liill  very  small,  the  Rape  with  very  short,  feeble  bristles;  wiii^s  vcrv  Ions  and 
pointed,  with  the  first  quill  nearly  or  (piite  ecjual  to  the  seeond,  and  the  primaries  not 
eniar-inated  on  the  inner  ed-e;  tail  long,  slightly  forked  iu  the  Xorth-American 
species;  plumage  rather  corjpact. 


M  : 


122 


OKNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I      f 


CHORDEILES  POPETUE.  —  ftii/v/. 


The  Night-hawk;  Bull  Bat, 


Capnnmhjvs  popelue,  Vicillot.    Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  I.  (1807)  56, 
Ciipriinit/i/iis  Ainvvknnus,  Wilson,  V.  (1812)  OJ, 
Qiprimuli/iis  Viryiniauiis.    Ami,  Urn.  Bioff.,  II.  (1S31)  273. 

DKSCI'.irTION. 

Male,  above  greenish-black,  with  but  little  mottling  on  (lie  lieail  and  back;  wing 
coverts  varied  with  grayish;  scapulars  with  yellowi-sh-rnlbiis;  a  nuchal  band  of  line 
gray  mottling,  behind  which  is  another  coarser  one  of  rnlbus  spots;  a  whi'o 
V-slin|H'd  mark  on  the  throat;  behind  this  a  collar  of  pale-rufous  blotches,  and 
another  on  the  breast  of  grayisli  mottling;  under  ])arfs  baiulcd  transversely  with 
dull-yell., wish  or  reddish-white  and  brown;  wing  ((uills  (piite  unilbrndy  brown;  tlio 
five  outer  prinuirics  with  a  white  blotch  midway  between  the  tip  and  carpal 
joint,  not  extending  on  the  outer  web  of  the  outer  <juill;  tail  with  a  terminal  white 
patch. 

Female,  without  the  caudal  white  patch,  the  white  of  the  throat  mixed  with 
reddish. 

Length  of  male,  nine  and  fifty  onc-hundredths  inches;  wing,  eight  and  twenty 
one-hundredths  inches, 

Tliis  bu  ^  is  much  more  abuiulautly  clistributed  tlirougli- 
out  New  England  than  tlie  preceding;  and  its  habits  are, 
consequently,  better  known.  It  arrives  from  the  south 
about  the  10th  of  May,  At  this  time,  great  numbers  may 
be  observed,  at  early  twilight,  coursing  through  the  air  iii 
different  directions,  sometimes  at  a  groat  lieight,  sometimes 
just  above  the  trees  in  the  country,  or  houses  in  the  city ; 
occasionally,  very  near  the  earth  or  water,  or,  when  near 
the  seacoast,  but  just  above  the  marshes,  where  they  destroy 
great  numbers  of  insects.  Their  flight  is  very  rapid,  their 
long  wings  giving  quick,  powerful  sweeps;  and,  as  they  dart 
about  in  many  eccentric  movements,  busily  gleaning  their 
food,  they  utter,  at  oft-repeated  intervals,  their  short  note 
or  squeak,  which  ahnost  exactly  resembles  that  of  the  Com- 
mon kSnipe. 

About  the  middle  of  jNFay,  or  l)y  the  20th  of  that  month, 
in  Maine,  the  male  commences  his  attentions  to  the  female. 
His  movements  at  this  time  arc  interesting,  and,  from  their 
common  occurrence,  familiar  to  all  who  live  in  the  country. 


It'-  ; 


I'  V- 

I'  " ; 


m> 


THE   NIGHT-IIAWK. 


123 


At  early  evening,  and  in  cloudy  weather  tliroughout  the 
greater  [)art  of  the  day,  lie  ascouds  into  the  air ;  and  when 
lie  has  attained  a  considerabh)  lu'ij:,ht,  ])ai'tial!y  closing  his 
Avings,  ho  drojjs  witii  great  velocity  through  the  distance  of 
seventy-five  or  one  hundred  feet,  sometimes  nearly  to  the 
earth.  The  sound  made  by  the  air  passing  through  the  wing 
quills  is  so  loud  that  1  have  often  heard  it  at  certainly  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile :  it  resembles,  as  Nuttall  truly  says, 
th(!  sound  produced  by  blowing  into  the  l)ung-hole  of  an 
empty  hogshead.  Tliis  act  is  often  rejjeated,  tlie  bird  darting 
about  at  the  same  time  in  every  direction,  and  uttering  his 
sharp  nqucdlc.  Wilson  was  of  the  oi)inion,  that  this  habit  of 
the  Night-hawk  was  confined  to  tlie  jieriod  of  incubation; 
the  male  acting  in  this  manner,  as  ho  thought,  to  intimidate 
any  person  from  a])proaching  the  nest.  I  have  had  abun- 
dant opportunities  for  observing  the  bird  in  all  times  of  the 
summer,  and  during  its  stay  with  us;  anil  I  should  uidicsi- 
tatingly  aflirm,  that,  from  the  time  of  early  courtship,  iintil 
the  young  are  hatched,  if  not  after,  the  male  acts  in  this 


manner. 


This  species  constructs  no  nest,  I)ut  lays  its  eggs  on  the 
bare  ground  in  a  slight  hollow  scratched  by  the  female,  or 
often  on  a  bare  rock.  I  have  found  numl)ers  of  these  eggs, 
particularly  in  the  northern  parts  of  Maine,  where,  in  walk- 
ing over  a  ])asture  or  rocky  field,  I  have  tlushed  sometimes 
a  bird  in  every  ten  rods.  1  remenil)er  a  ledge  of  rocks 
back  of  the  settlement  known  as  AVilson's  ^lills,  which 
seemed  a  favorite  breeding-}»lace  for  these  birds;  and,  in  the 
si»ace  of  every  four  or  live  rods,  a  female  was  sitting  on  her 
eggs.  The  eggs  are  two  in  number,  elliptical  in  shape,  of 
a  dirty-white  color,  which  is  covered  with  iine  dottings 
of  difierent  shades  of  brown,  with  obscure  markings  of 
slate-color,  and  some  S])ots  of  lavender.  Length  from  1.23 
to  1.25  inch  ;  l)readth,  from  .82  to  .85  inch.  A  great  num- 
ber of  siiecimens  from  diliferent  sections  do  not  cxhiljit  au 
appreciable  variation  from  these  dimensions.     In  the  south- 


124 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


oru  districts,  it  lays  about  the  20th  of  May ;  in  tlvo  northern, 
about  the  10th  of  Juno. 

The  male  assists  the  female  in  incubatmg,  as  I  have  wit- 
nessed many  times.  When  jKjnjhcd  by  her  on  a  tree  or 
fence-rail,  during  the  light  of  mid-day,  he  always  sits  ahmff 
the  limb  or  rail,  instead  of  across  it  —  a  peculiarity  which  is 
also  noticeable  in  the  Wliippoorwill.  Some  authors,  in  sjkmiIv- 
ing  of  this  fact,  explain  it  by  noticing  the  comparatively 
small  size  of  the  feet,  and  ajjparent  weakness  of  the  legs. 
I  think  this  can  hardly  be  a  suHicient  cause ;  for  Ijoth  these 
birds,  while  on  the  ground,  can  run  with  considerable  sjjced, 
and,  if  captnred,  can  not  only  perch  aorons  the  linger  of  a 
hand  or  the  back  of  a  chair,  as  I  have  often  proved,  but  can 
rest  on  one  foot,  drawing  the  other  up  into  the  feathers 
of  the  belly,  like  other  birds. 

About  the  20th  of  Augnst,  after  the  young  have  become 
able  to  provide  for  themselves,  all  the  families  in  a  neigh- 
borhood assemble  in  a  large,  scattered  flock;  and,  after 
having  become  completely  recruited  from  the  labors  of  incu- 
bation, they  all  leave  for  the  south. 


THE   RELTKD   KINGFIHIIER. 


125 


SUB-ORDER  CLAaiATORES.    Screamers. 


Family  ALCEDINIDiE.     Tin:  Kinofisiifrs. 

Ilcn.l  liirffo;  bill  lonpr,  stronr  -^traifrht,  nnd  sul)-pvrnmi.lal,  usimllv  l„n-«r  tlinti 
flu.  lu-iMl:  tmnw  vory  s.ni.lh  n-s  sl.nrt;  !<.«,  small,  tlic  o.it.T  ami  mi.l.llo  toea 
uiiitiMl  to  tliciniiiildlp;  toi's  with  the  usual  iiuiiiImt  of  joints  (2,  3,4,  5). 

Til..  na|)r  of  the  l>ill  in  f|„.  Kinjriishers  is  lar^o,  michiiif;  to  h.'nrath  Hipovm- 
tho  tlnrrt  prininry  is  Koiicrally  loi.Kost,  tli."  first  .Icciiloillv  sli.irt.T:  th.>  secondaries 
vary  from  fwelvp  to  fiftc.n  in  mmduT,  all  iiearlv  e.inal;  the  secondaries  rover  at 
least  threfi-(|iiarters  of  the  win^r;  the  tail  is  short,  the  feathers  twelve  in  niimhcr 
they  are  rather  narrow,  the  out.T  usually  shorter;  the  lower  pnrt  of  the  tibia  is  l.nre| 
leavinK  the  joint  and  the  tarsus  uncovered;  the  tarsus  is  covered  anteriorly  with 
plates,  behind,  it  is  shagreen-like  or  granulated;  tho  hind  too  is  ponnected  wi'th  tho 
inner,  so  as  to  form  with  it  and  the  ..ihers  n  r.'-ular  sole,  which  extends  unbroken 
beneath  the  middle  and  outer  as  far  as  the  latter  are  unitr^d;  the  inner  toe  is  much 
shorter  than  the  outer;  the  claws  aro  sharp,  the  middle  expanded  on  its  inner  edije 
but  not  pectinated.  ' 

CERYLE,  BoiE. 

Cerj/k,  BoiK,  Isis  (1828)  316  (typo  C.  nulk). 

Bill  Ion-,  straight,  nnd  stronfr,  tho  pulmen  slightly  ndvnncinR  on  tho  forehead, 
and  slopiiiff  to  the  acute  tip;  the  sides  much  ronipressed;  the  lateral  Mmr^ins  rather 
dilated  at  the  base,  and  straight  to  the  tip;  the  gonys  long  and  ascending;  tail 
rather  long  and  broad ;  tarsi  short  and  stout. 

CERYLE  ALCYON.  —  «oie. 
The  Belted  Kingfisher. 

Alce'h  alnpn,  Linnipus.      Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1760)  180.     Wilson,  Am.  Om.,  Ill 
(1811)  .59.     Ami.  Om.  Biog.,  I.  (1831)  394. 
Cer;/le  nlci/nn,l]o\e.    Isis,  (1828)  316. 

Description. 

Head  with  a  long  crest;  abo,  blue,  without  metallic  lustro :  bon,  ath.  with  a  con- 
cealed hand  across  tlie  occiput,  and  a  spot  anterior  to  the  eye,  pure-white;  a  band 
across  the  breast,  and  the  sides  of  the  body  under  the  wings',  like  the  back;  prima- 
ries white  on  the  basal  half,  the  terminal  unspotted;  tail  with  transverse  bands  and 
spots  of  white. 

Yoimg,  with  tho  sides  of  body  and  a  transverse  hand  across  the  bellv  below  the 
pectoral  one,  light-chestnut :  tho  pectoral  band  more  or  less  tinged  with  the  same. 
Length  of  adult,  about  twelve  and  three-quarters  inches;  wing,  six  or  more. 
Eab.  — Tho  entire  continent  of  North  America. 


¥ 


'  ,    .«! 


ill 

,1 

Pi 

1 

■af 


II 


'V 


I'M' 


}• 


tip 
liU 


120 


OtlNITllOLOOY    AN'I)   OOLOGY. 


h 


I 


rillllH  species  is  a  very  common  summer  inliahitatit  of  all 
X  tho  Now-Kii«ilaiul  States.  It  arrives  tVom  tho  south 
about  tlio  1st  of  April,  often  earlier,  partieiiliirly  in  early 
springs:  indeed,  Mr.  Verrill  says  they  are  sometimes  seen 
in  Maine  in  winter,  and  they  are  often  found  in  tho  southern 
districts  of  these  States  in  tliis  season.  Tho  birds,  on  arriv- 
ing, commence  pairing;  and  they  soon  begin  excavating  in  a 
sand-l>ank  a  long,  winding  hole  of  about  three  inches  and 
a  half  in  diameter  at  tlie  entrance,  and  gradually  larger  to 
the  end,  at  which  the  nest,  composed  of  grasses,  leaves,  and 
feathers,  is  l)uilt, — or  laid,  whieli  would  perhaps  be  tho  better 
term.  This  hole  is  sometimes  as  much  as  hi.,  or  eight  feet, 
usually,  from  four  to  six,  in  length.  The  female  deposits  in 
this  nest  six  eggs  usually :  these  are  of  a  clear-white  color, 
and  of  a  nearly  spherical  shape,  being  from  l.-Jo  to  1.42 
inch  in  length,  by  from  1.05  to  l.OH  inch  in  breadth.  I  am 
aware  that  these  measurements  exceed  any  heretofore  given  ; 
but  they  are  accurately  taken  from  a  large  niimbcr  of  sjicci- 
mens  in  my  collection.  Dr.  Brewer  gives  tho  dimensions 
as  averaging  1^"^  in  length  l)y  l-^V  in  breadth.  The  i)eriod 
of  incubation  is  stated  by  Audubon  and  other  ornithologists 
to  be  sixteen  days. 

The  habits  of  this  bird  arc  so  well  known  that  any 
dcscrii)tion  hero  is  almost  superfluous.  Its  food,  as  its 
name  implies,  consists  almost  entirely  of  lish,  which  ho 
obtains  by  diving  into  tho  water,  and  seizing  witli  his  bill. 
When  passing  over  a  sheet  of  water,  he  attentively  scans 
the  surface  beneath  him:  if  he  observes  a  small  (ish,  he 
pauses  in  his  flight,  and  remains  over  it  a  few  seconds, 
maintaining  his  position  by  short,  quick  vibrations  of  his 
win<>s.  If  the  fish  is  sniTiciently  near  the  surface,  he  sud- 
denly dives  at  it,  and,  plunging  into  the  water,  seizes  it,  and 
bears  it  off  to  some  rock  or  post,  where  he  can  eat  it  at  his 
leisure.  The  note  of  the  Kingfisher  is  a  loud,  harsh  cry, 
similar  to  the  sound  of  a  watchman's  rattle :  it  is  easily 
heard  above  the  rushing  of  the  waters  at  a  dam  or  other 


THE   IlELTED   KINOFIHHEB. 


127 


watnrfall,  and,  when  liojinl  in  such  a  locality,  is  not  diHagroc- 
ahlo,  VVIion  })ercliO(l  uii  u  liml)  overliaiif>iiig  tlio  wator,  liu 
fmitu'iitlyj.jt.s  his  tail  in  tlio  nianncu-  of  tlio  I'owoo,  and 
ofton  (IcscendH  IVoni  hucIi  a  pcrcli  and  .seizes  a  lVof>' or  a  fish; 
and  1  onco  shot  ono  that  had  jnst  seized  a  nieiidow  nionso 
(arvicolu)  in  this  manner.  The  young  usually  remain  in 
tho  hole  in  tho  bank  until  they  are  about  Hedged.  1  am 
iiKiliiied  to  think,  that  usually  they  return  to  these  holes  at 
night  and  in  stormy  weather,  as  I  have  fVeciucmtly  s(M'n 
them  about  their  nests  long  after  tliey  were  Hedged,  and 
have  oven  scon  them  passing  into  them  at  the  close  of  the 
day.  In  migrating,  the  young  leave  their  parents,  and 
these  oven  separate,  and  pursue  their  journey  alono;  and  it 
ia  a  case  of  rare  occurrence  that  two  are  seen  together 
after  the  latter  part  of  August. 


128 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  COLOPTERIDiB.    The  Flycatchers. 


I  if 


Sub-Family  Tyrannin.t;. —  Tyrant  Flycatchers. 

Bill  brnador  than  high  at  thu  hasp,  much  <lo]irosso(l,  more  or  less  triangular;  cnl- 
nicn  nearly  as  long  as  the  head,  or  shorter,  straight  to  near  Iho  tip,  then  suddenly 
hunt  doAvn  into  a  conspicuous  hook,  with  a.  notch  behind  it;  tip  of  lower  Jaw  also 
notched;  commissure  straight  to  near  the  notch;  gouys  slightly  convex;  nostrils 
oval  or  rounded  in  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  nasal  groove,  and  more  or  less 
concealed  hy  long  bristles  which  extend  from  the  posterior  angle  of  the  jaws  along 
the  base  of  the  bill,  becoming  smaller,  but  reaching  nearly  to  the  median  line  of  the 
forehead;  these  bristles  with  lateral  branches  at  the  base:  similar  bristles  mixed  in 
the  loral  feathers  and  margining  the  chin;  tarsi  short,  generally  less  than  the  middle 
toe.  completely  enveloped  by  a  series  of  large  scales  which  meet  near  the  posterior 
edge  of  the  iniu'r  side,  and  arc  separated  either  by  naked  skin  or  by  a  row  of  small 
scales.  Sometimes  a  second  series  of  riitlier  large  |)liites  is  seen  on  tht;  posterior 
face  of  the  tarsus;  these,  however,  usiially  on  the  upper  extremity  oidy;  basal  joint 
of  middle  toe  united  almost  througlujfit  to  that  of  the  outer  toe,  but  more  than  half 
free  on  the  inner  side;  outer  lateral  toe  rather  the  longer;  wings  and  tail  variable, 
first  quill  always  more  than  thieo-fourths  the  second;  the  outer  primaries  sometimes 
attenuated  near  the  tip. 


11 


TYRANNUS,  Cuviek, 

Tiirnniiiin,  Ccvier,  Lecj'ons  Anat.  Comp.,  1790-1800  (Agassiz). 

Tail  lu'arly  even,  or  moderately  forked,  rather  shorter  than  the  wings;  the 
feathers  broad,  and  widening  somewhat  at  the  en<ls;  wings  long  and  jiointed; 
the  outer  primarii's  rather  abruptly  attenuated  near  the  end,  the  attenuated  portion 
not  linear,  howcs-er;  head  with  a  concealed  patch  of  red  on  the  crown. 


TYRANNUS  CAROLINENSIS.  -  nnh-d 


King-bird;  Bee  Martin. 

Loniiis  /i/rnmiitu,  Linnaeus.  .Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  136.  This  belongs  to  the  Cuban 
T.  m'ttiiiiiiiif,  according  to  Bonaparte. 

.^fllscicrlpa  ti/rnnnus  (Hrisson?),  Wilson.  Am.  Orn.,  I.  (IPOH)  G6.  Ami.  Orn. 
liiog.,  I.  (1832)' 403;  V.  (1830)  420.     JIk,  Birds  Amer.,  I.  (1840)  204. 

nKsrlSII'TIoN. 

Two,  sometimes  three,  outer  primaries  abruptly  attenuated  at  the  end;  second 
quill  longest,  third  little  shorter,  first  rather  longer  than  fourth,  or  nearly  equal; 
fail  slightly  rounded,  above  dark  liluish-ash;  the  top  and  sides  of  the  head  to 
beneath  the  eyes  bluish-black;  a  concealed  crest  on  the  crown,  vermilion  in  the 


I  ;. 


THE    KING-BIRD. 


129 


centre,  white  beliind,  and  before  partially  mixed  with  orange;  lower  parts  pure- 
wliite,  tinged  with  pale  bluish-ash  on  the  sides  of  the  throat  and  across  the  breast; 
sides  of  tlie  breast  and  under  the  wings  similar  to,  but  rather  lighter  than,  the  back; 
axillarics  pale  grayish-brown  tipped  with  lighter;  the  wings  dark-brown,  darkest 
towards  the  ends  of  the  quills;  the  greater  coverts  and  quills  edged  with  white, 
most  so  on  tlie  tertials;  the  lesser  coverts  edged  with  paler;  upper  tail  coverts 
and  upper  surface  of  the  tail  glossy-black,  the  latter  very  dark  brown  beneath; 
all  the  feathers  tipped,  and  the  exterior  margined  externally  with  white,  form- 
ing a  eonsiiicuous  terminal  band  about  twenty-live  one-hundredths  of  an  inch 
broad. 

The  yo>ing  of  the  year  is  similar,  the  colors  duller,  the  concealed  colored  patch 
on  the  crown  wanting;  the  tail  more  rounded,  the  primaries  not  attenuated. 

Specir.  ens  vary  in  the  amount  of  white  margining  the  wing  feathers;  the  upper 
tail  coverts  are  also  margined  sometimes  with  white. 

Length,  eight  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  fiur  and  sixty-five  one- 
hundredths  inches;  tail,  three  and  .seventy  one-hundredths  inches;  tarsus,  .seventy- 
hve  one-hundredths  inches. 

THIS  common  species  is  alnmdantly  clistribiitcd  tlirongh- 
out  New  Eiiglaiid  as  a  summer  resident.  It  arrives 
from  the  South  about  the  1st  to  the  10th  of  May:  the  males 
precede  the  females  in  snuiU  parties  of  three  or  four,  the 
latter  arriving  about  a  week  or  ten  days  later. 

Soon  after  tlie  arrival  of  the  females,  the  males  begin 
their  attentions  to  them;  and,  as  the  season  of  courtship  is 
comparatively  short,  the  new-made  couple  soon  begin  their 
selection  of  a  locality  for  tlioir  nest.  This  seems  to  be  with 
tliem  a  rather  difficult  matter  to  settle;  for  I  have  known  of 
a  pair  remaining  in  an  orchard  a  fortniglit,  examining  every 
tree  and  its  peculiar  advantages,  before  tliey  made  a  selec- 
tion. 

At  last,  when  the  location  is  decided,  both  lurds  com- 
mence W(U'k,  and  the  nest  is  soon  completed.  It  is  iisually 
])laced  on  the  branch  of  an  apple  or  pear  tree,  in  a  snudl 
cluster  of  twigs  or  a  crotch  of  a  limb  :  it  is  constructed 
outwardly  of  coarse  grasses,  mosses,  twigs,  roots,  and 
weeds;  and  is  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with  fine  roots, 
horse-hairs,  and  grasses.  About  the  1st  of  June,  the  eggs 
are  laid:  these  are  usually  five  in  number;  their  ground- 
color is  a  very  dd'cate  creamy-white,  witli  irregular  spatters 
and  spots  of  dilferent  shades  of  Ijrown,  and  some  obscure 

9 


180 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


m  V  ) 


spots  of  lavender.  Dimensions  of  a  nest  complement  of 
five  eggs:  1.00  l)y  .71  inch;  1.04  by  .70  inch;  1.02  by  .72 
inch  ;  1  by  .74  inch  ;  and  .04  by  .75  inch. 

During  the  mating  and  breeding  season,  the  pugnacity 
and  courage  of  the  King-bird  are  proverbial :  if  any  bird 
approach  the  neighborhood  of  his  nest,  he  immediately 
attacks  it;  and,  whether  crow  (his  particular  dislike), 
hawk,  or  eagle,  the  intruder  is  obliged  to  flee,  so  fierce  an 
onslaught  does  this  little  warrior  make  on  him.  As  soon 
as  the  cry  of  a  crow  is  heard,  he  is  all  activity  :  he  flies 
from  the  tree  where  he  is  perching  to  reconnoitre,  uttering 
his  shrill  twitter,  and  vibrating  his  wings  in  short,  quick, 
nervous  strokes ;  as  soon  as  the  crow  appears,  the  King- 
bird pursues  it,  his  flight  now  being  very  swift  and  ])Owerful. 
As  soon  as  he  nears  his  foe,  he  flies  above  him,  and,  dart- 
ing down  on  his  ))ack  and  head,  attacks  him  with  such 
viu'or  that  the  crow  dives  and  dodires  to  avoid  him.  He 
repeats  his  attack,  and  follows  his  enemy,  sometimes  to  the 
distance  of  a  mile  and  more :  then,  returning  to  his  mate, 
lie  perches  on  the  tree  by  her  ne'st,  and  twitters  a  volley  of 


courageous  songs. 


The  food  of  the  King-ljlrd  consists  principally  of  insects, 
which  he  captures  usually  while  on  the  wing.  It  seems  a 
provision  of  nature,  that  all  the  Fiycatcliers  shall  only  take 
those  insects  that  have  taken  flight  from  the  foliage  of  trees 
and  shrubs,  at  tlic  same  time  making  the  warblers  and 
other  birds  capture  those  which  remain  concealed  in  such 
places.  The  King-bird,  in  seizing  a  flying  insect,  flies  in  a 
sort  of  half-flitting  hover,  and  seizes  it  with  a  sharp  snap 
of  the  bill.  8ometin\es  ho  descends  from  his  perch,  and 
captures  a  grasshopper  that  has  just  taken  a  short  flight, 
and  occasionally  seizes  one  that  is  crawling  up  some  tall 
stalk  of  grass.  Those  farmers  who  keci)  bees  dislike 
this  bird  because  of  his  bad  habit  of  eating  as  many 
of  those  insects  as  show  themselves  in  the  neighborhood 
of  his  nest;   liut  they  should  remember  that  the  general 


k 


■;>,, 


;,,  "^        :l 


\^ 


i'f^ 


im 


he  fit 


ijiuo! 


i 


I'll 

m 

in 

1 

/,  , . 

.■; 

■?.iA-^  ..^ 


Wt^smammatafar^^^^mmexTnis.  m 


1 

4    ' 

1 

i 

Hi 

i 

i 

: 

II 


^1 


1 


THE   GREAT-CRESTED    FLYCATCHER. 


131 


interests  of  agriculture  are  greater  tliau  those  of  a  hive  of 

bees. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  this  bird  with  his  fiimily 
and  neighbors  gather  into  a  scattered  flock,  and  depart  for 
the  south,  spending  the  winter  in  Central  America  and 
Soutliern  Mexico. 

MYIARCHUS,  Caiiasis. 

Mllinrchm,  Carams,  l''nuna  roruana  (1844-4G)  152.  Burmeister,  Thiero  Bra- 
Bilifiis,  U.  Vi«cl  (1^50)  4()". 

Tur-us  eiiiial  U>,  (ir  not  li)iij,'cr  than,  the  micMle  toe,  which  is  deciilfdly  longer 
than  tiie  liiiid.r  oiif;  liili  wiihT  at  l)asc  than  halt' the  euhnen;  tail  hroad,  Ions,',  even, 
or  sli^Mitly  roiiiidcd,  alumt  e(iual  to  tin;  \vinf,'s,  which  scarcely  reach  the  middle  of 
the  tail,  the  first  i)riniary  shorter  than  the  sixili;  head  with  elongated  lanceolate 
distinct  feathers;  above  hrownish-olive;  throat  ash;  belly  yellow;  tail  and  wing 
feathers  varied  with  rufo\is. 


MYIARCHUS  CRINITUS.  —  Cibanis. 

The  Great-crested  Flycatcher. 

Mmckapa  a-ii,!ta,  Linnivus.    Syst.  Xat.,  I.  (ITOG)  325.    Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  II. 
(1810)  75.     And.  Orn.  Biog.,  II.  (1834)  176;  V.  423. 
Tyrannus  crinitm.     Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (2d  ed.,  1840)  302. 

Description. 

Head  with  a  depressed  crest ;  third  ([nill  longest,  fourth  and  second  successively 
but  little  shorter,  lirst  a  little  longer  than  seventh,  much  shorter  than  sixth;  tail 
decidedly  rounded  or  even  gradnaled,  the  lateral  feather  about  twenty-five  one- 
hundredths  of  an  inch  shorter;  uppi^i"  P"'"'^  'l>'"  grecMish-oliv.",  with  the  feathers  of 
the  crown,  and  to  some  extent  of  the  back,  showing  their  brown  centres;  upper  tail 
coverts  turning  to  pale  rusty-brown;  small  feathers  at  the  base  of  the  :•<'.,  cores, 
sides  of  the  head  as  high  as  the  np|)er  eyelid,  sides  of  the  neck,  throat,  and  forepart 
of  the  breast,  bluish-ashy;  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts,  including  axillaries  and  lower 
wing  coverts,  bright  sulphur-yellow;  a  pale  ring  round  the  eye;  si(U's  of  the  breast 
aiurbodv  tinged  with  olivaceous;  the  wings  brown,  the  first  and  second  rows  of 
coverts,  with  the  s..oiidary  and  tertial  quills,  margined  .xternally  with  dull-white, 
or  on  the  latter  slightly  tinged  with  oliv;iceou>-ycllow:  primaries  margined  exter- 
nally for  more  than  half  their  length  from  the  tiase  with  ferruginous,  great  portion 
of  the  iniuT  webs  of  all  the  quills  very  pale-ferruginous;  the  two  middle  tail 
feathers  light  brnwu,  shafts  paler,  the  rest  have  the  outer  web  and  a  narrow  line  on 
the  inner 'sides  of  the  sha«  brown,  pale  oli>  aceous  on  the  outer  edge,  the  remainder 
ferruginous  to  the  very  .ip;  outer  web  of  exterior  feather  dull  l)rownish-ye!low:  feet 
black;  bill  dark-brown  above  and  at  the  tip  below,  paler  towards  the  base. 

The  female  ai.pears  to  have  no  brown  on  the  inner  web  of  the  quills  along  tho 
shaft,  or  else  it  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  outer  feathers. 

Length,  eight  and  seveniy-five  one-huudredths  inches;  wing,  four  and  twenty- 


w. 


1    1 


llii 


■I  ,!  ' 


l»    ■ 


182 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


fivo  onc-hiindrcdths;   tail,  four  mid  ton  onc-hundrodtlis;   tarsuR,  eighty-five  one- 
iiundri'dtiis. 

//iih.  —  Kastcrn  Xorth  America  to  tiie  Missouri,  and  south  to  Eastern  Texas  (not 
yet  observed  I'urtliur  west). 

Tliis  species  is  a  rare  summer  inhabitant  of  Now  England. 
It  arrives  from  the  Soutli  about  the  lOtli  of  May  in  tlie  lati- 
tude of  Massachusetts,  —  that  is,  so  far  as  so  irregular  a 
visitor  uiay  be  said  to  arrive,  —  and  spreads  throughout 
these  States.  It  is  less  rare  in  the  soutlieru  districts  than 
in  tlie  middle,  and  liardly  penetrates  as  far  north  as  the 
latitude  of  the  uiiddle  of  Maine.  It  has  been  ascertained 
to  breed  iu  all  these  States ;  and  two  nests,  with  their  con- 
tents, are  before  me.  One  of  these  was  found  in  a  hoUow 
tree  iu  Plymouth,  Mass.,  on  the  10th  of  June ;  tlie  other 
■was  found  iu  Middleton,  Mass.,  on  the  4th  of  Jiuie.  These 
nests  are  comjiosed  of  straws,  leaves,  feathers,  and  tlie  cast- 
off  skins  of  snakes;  and  it  seems  a  distinguishing  character- 
istic of  the  nests  of  this  species  to  have  the  skins  of  one  or 
more  snakes  woven  into  the  other  materials.  The  first 
of  these  nests  had  live  eggs  ;  the  other,  throe.  These  are  of 
a  beautiful  creamy-buff,  and  covered  with  irregular  scratches 
and  lines  of  different  shad(\s  of  pur])le.  AVilson  says  of  these 
euu's,  "•  The  female  lavs  four  eirus  of  a  dull  cream-color, 
thickly  scratched  with  purple  lines  of  various  tints,  as  if 
done  with  a  pen."  Dimensions  of  eggs  vary  from  .95  by  .78 
inches  to  1  by  .80  inch. 

As  this  species  is  quite  rare  in  these  States,  I  have  had 
but  very  few  chances  for  observing  its  habits.  It  a])pears 
to  be  equally  courageous  and  quarrelsome  with  the  Ring- 
i)ird,  and  has  many  of  the  peculiarities  of  that  bird.  Its 
food  consists  of  insects,  Avhich  it  captures  while  on  the  wing, 
Jilier  the  manner  of  the  other  species.  When  the  young 
leave  the  nest,  they  feed  on  berries  and  caterpillars,  and  are 
fond  of  crickets  and  grasshoppers.  By  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember, the  whole  family  leave  for  the  South. 


THR    PEWEE. 


133 


SAYOUNIS,  BosAi-AitTK. 

^.^7::::  m:;::""'  ^*^'"^"  ^^"""-'"  ^^^^^>-  ^-  ^--p^-  ^-^i-  (^^a*,. 

11-.,I  «iM>  «  l.l,.n,l...l  dc.pn.sscd  moderate  crest;   tarsus  dcciddlv  lonLn.r  tlnn 
nnddletocwK.h  is  scarcely  longer  ,I.an,lu.  hind  u,.;  l.iil  n.thcr  nam  w  .     , 
^ase  about  hai  f  ti.e  cui.ucu;   tail  l,n,a,l,  I.,n,,  sli,l„ly  f.-.-kcd,  c.„.al  ,o  ,,  , 


SAYORNIS  FUSCUS,  —  BfuVrf. 
The  Pewee;  Phebe-bird. 

r">-  V   n8.!'M.l.u      //     ,,.,■';'  Aud.  Oru.  liioy.,  II.  (1834) 

1— ,   V.  (IMJ)  4i4.     /6.,  lin-ds  Anicr.,  I.  (1S40)  223. 

T;,nninu,fusa,.<,  Xmtall.     Man.,  I.  (2d  cd.,  1840)  312. 

Mmdcapa  nuriciula,  Wil,s(m.    Am.  Orn.,  II.  (1810)  78;  pi.  xlii. 

Desciuitiox. 

Sides  ofbreasf  and  upper  parts  dul ve-l.n.wn,  fading  slightly  toward  the  tail  • 

...p  and  Mdes  o,  h.ui  dark-hn.wn;  a  tcw  dull-white  feathers  on  L  cveli, U  ,  . 
parts  dull  ycl!ow.sh-wh,te  u.i.xed  with  brown  on  the  chin,  and  in  sonu.  in.li  idual 
across  the  bn.ast;  ,,udls  brown,  the  outer  prinuny,  secondaries,  and  tcrtials  ^  d 
w.th  .lull-wnte;  ,n  sou.e  ,udi^,dnals  the  grea.cr  coverts  faintly  edged  with  d^l  1- 
whdc;  tad  rown  outer  edge  of  lateral  feather  dull-white,  outJr  edges  of  the  r c  t 
l,ke  ,hc  hack;  t.bue  brown;  bill  and  feet  black;  bill  slender,  edges  n^.rlv  s.rai.'l  t• 
tad  rather  broad  and  slightly  forked,  third  quill  longest,  second  and  fouVth  nc^rl^ 
eijual,  the  first  shorter  than  sixth.  ' 

I.ength   seven  inches;  wing,  three  and  forty-two  onc-hundredths;  tail,  three  and 
tliu'ty  one-hundredlhs. 

/A(/y.  —  Kastern  Xorlh  .\nierica. 

'-""'tumn  and  oc..asionally  in  ,.arly  spring,  the  colors  are  nuud,  clearer  a.id 
bng  ..r.  U  ho  .  lower  parts  s,,n,e,iu.es  bright  sulphur-yellow,  above  greenish-olive, 
op  "d  sules  o  he  head  tmgcd  wuh  sooty;  in  the  young  of  the  year,  the  colors  arj 
"H.eh  duller;  all  he  w.ng  coverts  l,roa.Ily  tipped  «ith  light-ferruginous,  as  aNo  the 
.^x.reuu.  cuds  ot^the  wings  and  tail  f.a.hcrs;  the  brown  is  prevalent  o  ,l,e  wh 
-luna,  and  br.,s  :  the  Innd  part  of  the  baek.  ruu.p.  and  tail,  stronglv  .i.rruginous. 

I",  ta.l  ot    Ins  speccs  ,s  ..uite  dceplv  f„rke.|,  ,b„  external  feather  b..ing  from 
thirly-Mve^oue-hundre.lths  to  forty  one-hundredths   of  an   inch   longer   tlum   the 

This  ^vt'll-knou-n  bird  is  a  ve.7  coinniou  summer  inluihi- 
taut  ol  all  New  Ei.ola.ul.  It  arrives  Irom  the  8outli  offea 
as  early  as  the  middle  oC  March,  sometimes  before  the  last 
snowstorm  of  tlie  season.  As  soon  as  the  birds  have 
paired,  nsnally  by  the  h.st  of  April,  they  commence  build- 


l    I 


PI 


I 


a, 


184 


ORNITHOLOGY    \Nl)   OOLOGY. 


1 

f 

r 

! 

f 

ilH  !  I) 


J I 


ing.  Tlio  nest  is  nsuivlly  placet!  under  a  briilgo,  sometimes 
under  an  eavo,  or  ledge  of  rock,  sometimes  in  a  baru 
or  otlier  building.  It  is  constructed  of  line  roots,  grasses, 
fine  moss,  and  hairs,  which  are  plastc'red  together,  and 
to  the  oliject  the  nest  is  built  ou,  by  jjellets  of  mud:  it  is 
hollowed  about  an  inch  and  a  half,  and  lined  with  soft 
grasses,  wool,  and  feathers.  The  eggs  are  usually  live  in 
number:  their  color  is  white,  with  a  very  delicate  cnuun  tint. 
There  are  usually  in  each  litter  one  or  two  eggs  with  a  few 
sjiots  thinly  scattered  over  the  larger  end  :  these  spots  arc 
of  a  reddish-brown.  The  period  of  inciilialioii  is  thirteen 
days,  and  two  broods  arc  ol'ten  reared  in  tlie  season  in  this 
latitude.  The  lengtli  of  eggs  varies  from  .72  to  .78  inch ; 
breadth,  from  .o4  to  .5<>  inch. 

The  familiar  cheerful  habits  of  this  species,  and  the  fact 
that  it  is  one  of  the  first  binls  to  remind  us  of  the  return 
of  spring,  have  made  it  a  universal  favorite;  and  many 
residents  in  the  country  are  so  attached  to  it,  that  tliey 
protect  it,  and  encourage  its  visits,  and  oven  provide 
quarters  for  the  establishment  of  its  nest.  It  seems  to  jire- 
fer  the  neighborhood  of  a  ])ond  or  stream  of  water  for  its 
home,  where,  i)erching  on  tht>  branch  of  an  overhanging 
tree,  or  on  the  railing  of  a  bridge,  or  darting  about  in  dif- 
ferent directions,  it  busies  itself  through  the  day  in  cutcliing 
the  insects  that  swarm  in  myriads  in  such  localities.  When 
perching,  it  frequently  flirts  its  tail  and  erects  the  feathers 
of  its  head,  uttering  tiie  notes  phebi'-phdec  in  a  soft 
]»laintive  key.  t^ometimes,  tliis  note  is  more  lively,  ivsem- 
bling  the  word  pewci't,  pciccct,  uttered  in  a  (piiek,  cheerful 
manner.  The  beautiful  descriptiou  of  the  habits  of  tliis 
bird,  given  bv  Audnlwn,  is  certainly  one  of  the  best  efforts 
of  that  naturalist;  and  I  would  advise  all  who  are  interested 
in  the  history  of  the  bird  to  risad  it. 

After  the  young  have  left  the  nest,  the  i)arcnts  remain 
together  in  tiie  neigliltorhood  of  their  home  until  their 
departure,  about  the  middle  of  October.     At  this  time,  they 


THE   OLirE-SIORD    FLYCATCIIKR. 


135 


arc  a  littlo  inons  shy  than  thoy  weru  durinf?  the  season 
of  iiicuhatiou,  and  fhuir  iiuto  is  soldom  heard  ;  and,  when  it 
is,  it  consists  of  a  molancholy  strain,  (luite  dillhrcnt  from 
that  nttered  in  tho  spring  and  early  sunnuer. 

f'OXTOlTS,  C.MiANis. 

Ow/iy«M,  Cahams,  .Touw.iI  fiir  Oriiilliolo;.,,.,  HI.  (\,,v,.  lhr.5)  479.  (Type 
ifiiHflcdjin  rirenn,  L.) 

Tursiis  vury  short,  hut  Moiit,  U'ss  than  th.'  iiiiddh'  t.jc,  mikI  M-.iivcly  loii;;..r  thiiii 
the  hhidiT.  hill  .niitc  hroiid  at  the  hasc,  wiihT  than  half  thr  .  nlincii ;  tail  iiiod- 
iratck  (ork.'d,  nui.  ii  short.T  than  tlu'  winns  (rather  niori'  than  thrcf-ti.nrthH)!  winKs 
very  l.ni^,'  and  nuieh  pnint.d,  reai  liin^  h.yrtnd  the  middle  i,(  the  tail,  tho  first 
(iriniary  uhout  e-iimi  to  the  fourth;  all  the  priinari.s  ^ii'tider  and  rather  aeute,  hut 
mil  attenuated;  head  inn.lerately  crested ;  eul„r,  olivi'  al.ove,  pale-yellowish  heueath, 
with  a  darker  i)aleh  on  llie  sides  of  the  hrea^l ;  under  tail  coverts  streaked. 

CONTOPUS  BOEEALIS.  -  /l^nnl. 
The  Olive-sided  Flycatcher. 
Tiiraumii  hovenlk,  Sw.  and  Hieh.  F.  H,,r.  Am.,  II.  ( ls:;i)  m  ;  |,i,,,„. 
Mimknpu  Ciojiei-i,  Nuttull.     Man.,  I.  (ls;}2)  aH2.     And.  Orn.  Hi(«    II   (1S34) 
422;  V.  (18.30)422.  ' 

Tyt'iiniiiu  Co  peri,  Bonaparto.     List  { 1838).     Xuii.  Man.,  I,  (2d  ed.,  184^)  298. 
J/msc/iv^w /»((/•»((/((,  Xuttall.     .Mail.  1.(1832)282. 

l>i:s(liiiTiu\. 

\y\ntit  hmj;,  much  pointed,  the  s,.e„iid  ipiill  lon;,'est,  the  fh-st  Ir)n^'er  than  the 
third;  fail  deeply  forked;  tarsi  short;  the  upper  parts  ashy-hrown,  showing;  darker 
l.rowu  centres  of  the  feathers,  this  is  eminently  the  case  On  the  top  of  the  head; 

the  sidi  .^  of  the  head  and  k,  of  the  l.reast  and  hody  resemlilln-  the  hack,  hut 

with  the  .Ml-es  of  the  feathers  tin-e.l  with  ^'ray,  ieaviny;  a  darker  central  streak;'  the 
chin,  throat,  ii.nrnw  line  (h.wn  the  middle  of  the  In-east  and  hody,  al.d,.men,  and 
lower  tail  coverts  white,  or  sometimes  with  a  faint  tiuj^o  of  yellow;  the  lower 
tad  coverts  somewhat  streaked  with  l.rown  in  the  centre;  on  each  side  of  the  rnmp, 
generally  concealed  by  the  winu's,  is  an  eh.n.irated  hunch  of  white  silky  feathers;' 

the  winf,^s  and  tail  very  dark  l.rown.  the  former  with  the  cd^os  of  the  se( daries 

and  tertials  e.l-ed  with  didl-wliite;  the  hiwer  winj;  coverts  and  axillaries  Mr,,yish- 
hio.v!:;  tie-  lips  of  the  prinniries  ami  tail  feathers  rather  jialer;  feet  and  upp-r 
maudihle  black,  h.wer  mandible  brown;  the  youn;,'  of  the  year  similar,  hu  the 
color  didler;    feet  li;iht-brow.i. 

Length,  seven  and  (itty  (m.'-linndrcdlhs  inches  ;  winir.four  and  thirtv-three  ono- 
hundredths;  tail,  three  and  thirty  oue-hundredths;  tarsus,  sixtv  one-hundredths. 

Jlal/.  —  Uara  on  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  the  ruited  States,  js'ot 
observed  in  the  interior,  except  to  file  uorth.     Found  in  (ireenland.     (Heinhardt.) 

This  bird  is  a  not  very  coininon  sninnier  inhahitant  of 
New  England.     It  arrives  from  tho  Sonth  about  the  20th 


f  1' 


y%. 


w 


^. -^- 


». 


.o'-T^^t:^ 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


■-  IIIIM 

|50        ' 

•^  illM 


|M 

|||M 

IM 

1.8 


1.25      1.4      1.6 

-u 

6" 

► 

Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14S80 

(716)  472-4503 


.<% 


•V 


^^^ 


\ 


N> 


^''  ^ 


"^ 


v 


It- 


,<^ 


,v^%7<^ ..  w 


136 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


i 


IV 


•.viii 


of  May,  and  is  most  frequently  observed  in  low  growths  of 
oak  and  chestnut:  it  seems  always  busily  employed  in 
catching  winged  insects,  of  which  its  food  almost  entirely 
consists ;  these  it  seizes  in  the  manner  of  the  King-bird, 
which  bird  it  resembles  in  both  its  habits  and  disposition. 
I  have  sometimes  seen  two  birds  of  this  species  engaged  in 
a  fight,  which,  for  fierceness,  I  have  hardly  seen  sxirpassed. 
They  would  rush  together  in  mid-air,  snapping  their  bills, 
beating  with  their  wings,  and  pecking  each  other,  until  they 
both  descended  to  the  trees  beneath,  actually  exhausted  with 
their  exertions. 

Mr.  Verrill  says  that  it  breeds  quite  common  near  the 
Umbagog  Lakes,  Me. ;  but  I  have  never  been  able  to  find  its 
nest  there  or  elsewhere,  although  I  have  looked  for  it  with 
great  care. 

It  has  been  found  breeding  in  Vermont ;  and  Dr.  Thomp- 
son, in  his  work  on  the  birds  of  that  State,  gives  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  nest  and  eggs.  Three  nests  have  been  found  in 
Massachusetts  within  two  years;  two  in  West  Roxbury,  and 
one  in  Dorchester.  These  were  all  built  in  forked  twigs 
of  apple-trees,  in  old  neglected  orchards,  facing  to  the 
southward,  and  were  constructed  of  the  same  material  that 
the  King-bird  uses  in  its  nest.  In  fact,  they  were  almost 
exactly  like  the  King-bird's  nest,  but  were  a  little  smaller. 

Two  of  the  nests  had  three  eggs  each,  and  the  other  had 
but  two.  Tlicy  were  all  found  in  the  first  week  in  June, 
and  the  eggs  were  freshly  laid :  probably,  if  they  had  been 
unmolested,  more  eggs  Avould  have  been  deposited.  Three 
of  these  eggs  are  in  my  cabinet.  To  compare  them  with 
the  eggs  of  any  other  bird,  I  should  say  they  seem  like 
exceedingly  large  Wood  Pewee's :  for  they  are  almost  exactly 
like  them  in  shape,  color,  and  markings ;  being  of  a  creamy- 
white,  with  large  blotches  and  spatters  of  lilac,  lavender, 
and  brownish-red.  Their  dimensions  are  .88  by  .68 ;  .88 
by  M ;  .86  by  .68  inch. 

Mr.  Nuttall,  who  found  a  nest  in   Cambridge,  Mass., 


THE   WOOD   PEWEE. 


137 


describes  it  as  follows:   "It  was  built  in  the  horizontal 
branch  of  a  tall   red  cedar,  forty  or  fifty  feet  from  the 
ground.     It  was  formed  much  in  the  manner  of  the  King- 
bird's, externally  made  of  interlaced  dead  twigs  of  the 
cedar  ;  internally,  of  the  wire  stolons  of  the  common  Lichen 
or  Umea.     It  contained  three  young,  and  had  had  probably 
four  eggs.     The  eggs  had  been  hatched  about  the  20t]i  of 
June,  so  that  the  pair  had  arrived  in  this  vicinity  about  the 
close  of   May."      Pie   also -describes   the   bird's    note   as 
follows :  "  The  female  had  a  whistling,  oft-repeated,  whin- 
ing call  of  'i^ri  'pu,  then  varied  to  'pu  'pip,  and  'pip  'pu,  also 
at^ times  'pip^  'pip  'pu,ytp  'pip  yip^  'pu  'pTi  'pip,  or  'ta  'ta 
'tu,  and  'ta  'tu.     The  male,  besides  this  note,  had,  at  long 
intervals,  a  call  of  neh'  pliehee  or  'h'  phebed,  almost  exactlj 
in  the  tone  of  the  circular  tin  whistle  or  bird-call." 

By  the  second  week  in  September,  none  of  these  birds 
are  to  be  seen ;  and,  probably  before  that  time,  they  have 
all  departed  on  their  migrations. 


Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832) 


CONTOPUS  VIRENS.  -  Cabanis. 
The  Wood  Pewee. 
Muscicapa  vlrens,  Liiinnsiis.     Syst.  Nut.,  I.  (17G6)  327. 
285.     And.  Orn.  liiog.,  II.  (1834)  93;  V.  (1839)  425. 
Muscicnpa  rnpax,  Wilsmi.     Am.  Orn.,  II.  (1810)  81. 
Tyrannm  rirena,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (2a  ed.,  1840)  316. 

DKSCRIPTtON. 

Tlie  .second  (luill  longest,  the  tliird  a  little  shorter,  the  first  shorter  than  the 
fourth,  the  latter  nearly  torty  one-huiulredths  lonRer  than  tlie  tiftli;  the  primaries 
more  than  an  inch  longer  than  the  secondaries;  the  upper  parts,  sides  of  the  head, 
neck,  and  breast,  dark  olivaceons-brown,  the  latter  rather  paler,  the  head  darker-  a 
narrow  white  ring  round  the  eye;  the  lower  parts  pale-vellowish,  deepest  on  the 
abdomen;  across  the  breast  tinged  with  ash;  this  pale  ash  sometimes  occupies 
the  whole  of  the  breast,  and  even  occasionally  extends  up  to  the  chin;  it  is  also 
somethnes  gl.isscd  with  olivaceous;  the  wings  and  tail  dark-brown,  generally  deeper 
than  in  S.  fiisciis;  two  narrow  bands  across  the  wing,  the  outer  edge' of  tirst 
primary  and  of  the  secondaries  and  tertials  dull-white;  the  edges  of  the  tail  feathers 
like  the  back,  the  outer  one  scarcely  lighter;  upper  nnindible  black,  the  lower  yel- 
low, hut  brown  at  the  tip. 

Length,  six  and  tittecn  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  at'ty  one-hun- 
dredths:  tail,  tiiree  and  live  one-hundredths. 

Ilab.  —  Eastern  North  America  to  the  borders  of  the  high  central  plains,  south  to 
New  Granada. 


L  1 


t 


_      liljl 


I' 

I, 


!i' 


f  • 


i\ 


'     i  > 


138 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


This  "bird  is  a  common  summer  inhalntant  of  Now  Eng- 
land, making  its  appearance  from  the  South  from  about  the 
10th   to  the  20ih  of   May.      It  prefers   the   solitudes  of 


the  deep  forests  to  the  more  open  districts,  and  is  a  more 
retiring  species  than  any  of  its  cousins  in  these  States. 
About  the  last  of  May,  the  birds,  having  chosen  their  mates, 
commence  building.  The  nest  is  placed  usually  on  the 
horizontal  limb  of  a  tree,  generally  at  a  height  of  about 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground  :  it  is  composed  of  pine  leaves 
and  cottony  substances,  and  covered  with  lichens  and 
mosses,  which  are  fixed  on  after  the  manner  of  the  Hum- 
ming-bird. I  think  Nuttall's  description  of  the  nest  the 
best  that  I  have  seen  :  it  is  as  follows :  — 

"The  nest  is  extremoly  neat  and  curious,  almost  universally 
saddled  upon  an  old  moss-grown  and  decayed  limb  in  a  horizontal 
position,  and  is  so  remarkably  shallow,  and  incorporated  ujiou  tlie 
branch,  as  to  be  easily  overlooked.  Tlie  body  of  the  fabric  con- 
sists of  wiry  grass  and  root  fibres,  often  blended  with  small  branch- 
ing lichens,  held  together  with  cobwebs  and  caterpillars'  silk, 
moistened  with  saliva ;  externally,  it  is  so  coated  over  with  bluish, 
crustaceous  lichens  as  to  be  hardly  discernible  from  the  moss 
upon  the  tree.  It  is  lined  with  finer  root-fibres,  or  slender  grass- 
stalks." 


:f\;- 


THE  WOOD   I'EWEE. 


139 


The  eggs  arc  generally  four  in  number.  They  are  veiy 
beautilul,  being  of  a  delicate  cream-color,  with  blotches 
and  spots  of  lilac  and  brown  around  the  larger  end  :  there 
are  two  shades  of  lilac,  — one  obscure,  and  the  other 
decided,  even  a  lavender.  The  eggs  are  generally  oval  in 
shape,  and  but  little  larger  at  one  end  than  at  the  other 
Length  from  .12  to  .78  inch ;  breadth  from  .04  to  .56  inch. 
But  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season  in  Xew  England. 
The  period  of  incubation  is  fourteen  days. 

Tiie  habits  of  this  sjjecies  are  not  generally  so  well  known 
as  those  of  the  Phebe,  which  bird  it  resembles  in  many 
respects.     Although  it  is  usually  found  in  the  wildest  and 
most  thickly  wooded  localities,  it  sometimes  frequents  the 
orchards  and  open  pastures ;  and  1  have  occasionally  seen 
individuals  on  the  trees  on  Boston  Common,  busily  enga.^ed 
111  hunting  insects,  and  apparently  havinu'  families  in  'the 
neighborhood.     The  note  is  different  from  that  of  the  Phebe, 
being  more  plaintive  and  drawling,  soundin-  like  the  syl- 
lables   ^'pe-tveeeer    ''pe-iveSee:'      When    the    nest    is    a]> 
proached,   both    the    parents    fly  to    meet    the    intruder, 
hovering  over  his  head,  snapping  their  l)ills,  and  uttorin<^ 
short  notes  of  complaint  like  chij^^^Je,  pe-peu:  they  often 
alight  on  a  twig  near  him,  and  flirt  their  tails  and  rpiiver 
their   wings    in   a   nervous,   irritable   manner.     After   the 
young  have  left  the  nest,  the  old  birds  separate ;  and,  thouirh 
still  frequenting  the  same  localities  they  inhabited  during 
the  season  of   incubation,  they  are  seldom  seen  togethei^ 
ench  seeming  to  avoid  the  other.     They  are  now  generally 
silent,  and,  when  approaclied,  are  quite  shy.     They  leave 
the   New-England   States  by  the  lUth  of  September,  and 
probably  winter  in  South  America. 


EMPIDOXAX,  CAiiAxis. 
Empvhnnx,  Cai.anis,  Journal  fur  Omithologie,   III.   (Xov,  1S55)  480  (type 
Tyrannula  of  most  authors. 


fpf 


h' 


i 


>i  I 


I 


i   i 


>k>. 


140 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Tarsus  lengthened,  considerably  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  which  is  decide  !ly 
longer  than  the  hind  toe;  bill  variable;  tail  very  slightly  forked,  even,  or  rounded, 
a  little  shorter  only  tlian  the  wings,  which  are  considerably  rounded,  the  iirst  pri- 
mary' much  shorter  tlian  the  fourth;  head  moderately  crested;  color  olivaceous 
above,  yellowish  beneath ;  throat  generally  gray. 


EMPIDONAX  TEAILLII.  —  iQai/J. 
The  Traill's  Flycatcher. 

Muscicnpa  tvaillU,  Audubon.     Orn.  Uiog.,  I.  (1832)  236;  Y.  (1839)  426. 
Tyranmis  traitlii,  Nuttall.    Man.,  L  (2d  ed.,  1840)  S23. 

DesCKII'TIDN. 

Third  quill  longest,  second  scarcely  shorter  than  fourth,  first  shorter  than  fifth, 
about  thirty-five  one-hundredths  shorter  than  the  longest;  primaries  about  seventy- 
five  one-hundredths  of  an  inch  longer  than  secondaries;  tail  even;  u[\\wr  parts  dark 
olive-green,  lighter  under  the  wings,  and  duller  and  more  tinged  witli  ash  on  nape 
and  sides  of  tiie  neck;  centre  of  the  crown  feathers  brown;  a  pale  yellowisli-wliite 
ring  (in  some  specimens  altogether  white)  round  the  eye;  loral  feathers  mixed 
witli  white;  chin  and  throat  white;  the  breast  and  sides  of  throat  light-asli  tinged 
with  olive,  its  intensity  varying  in  individuals,  the  former  sometimes  faintly 
tinged  with  olive;  sides  of  the  breast  much  lilie  the  back;  middle  of  the  belly  nearly 
white;  sides  of  the  belly,  abdomen,  and  the  lower  tail  coverts  sulphur-yellow;  the 
quills  and  tail  feathers  dark-brown,  as  dark  (if  not  more  so)  as  these  parts  in 
C.  virens;  two  olivaceous  yellow-white  bands  on  the  wing,  formed  by  the  tips  of  the 
first  and  second  coverts,  succeeded  by  a  brown  one,  the  edge  of  the  first  primary 
and  of  secondaries  and  fertials  a  liltle  lighter  shade  of  tlie  same;  the  outer  edge  of 
the  tail  feathers  like  the  back,  that  of  the  lateral  one  rather  lighter;  bill  above  dark- 
brown,  dull-brownish  beneath. 

Length,  nearly  six  inches;  wing,  two  and  ninety  onc-hundrcdths;  tail,  two  and 
sixty  one-hundredths. 

Hub. — Eastern  United  States,  andsoutii  to  Mexico. 

This  bird  is  occasionally  found  as  a  spring  and  autumn 
visitor  in  New  England,  arriving  al)out  the  loth  or  20th  of 
May.  In  its  habits,  it  resembles  the  Least  Flycatcher  (^IJ. 
minimus},  as  it  docs  also  in  its  plumage:  iu  fact,  these  two 
birds  and  the  Green-crested  Flycatcher  have  been  so  much 
mistaken  for  each  other  by  di(!erent  naturalists,  the  confu- 
sion in  whose  descriptions  is  so  great,  that  it  requires  a  very 
careful  examination  to  identify  either  of  these  birds  per- 
fectly and  accurately.  I  have  had  no  ojiportunities  for 
observing  the  habits  of  the  bird  now  before  us,  and  can  add 
nothing  to  its  history.     Thompson,  in  his  "  Vermont  Birds," 


..;;Ph:^ 


THE   LEAST   FLYCATCHER. 


141 


gives  it  as  breeding  iu  that  State ;  and  I  have  no  doubt  it 

occasionally  passes  the  summer  in  each  of  tlio  New-England 

States.     1  had  a  nest  and  four  eggs  brought  me  in  June, 

1804,  found  in  Eastern  Massachusetts,  that  were   almost 

exactly  like  those  of  E.  minimus;  but  the  bird  brought 

witii  the  nest  was  unquestionably  of  this  species  :  whether 

or  not  the  two  belonged  together  I  cannot  say,  I)ut  think 

that  they  probably  did.     The   person  who  collected  them 

informed  me  tluit  tlio  nest  was  found  in  an  apple-tree  in  an 

old  orchard  :  it  was  built  in  a  small  fork  about  twenty  feet 

from  the  ground.     The  bird  attacked  the  person  who  found 

it,  courageously  flying  in  his  face,  and  snapping  its  bill 

with  anger,  and  uttering  a  querulous  twitter  like  that  of  the 

Phebe.     The  eggs  were  nearly  hatched ;  and,  as  they  were 

fotuid  on  the  20th  of  June,  they  must  have  been  laid  by 

the  10th  of  that  month. 

Two  eggs  in  my  cabinet,  from  near  Quebec,  Lower  Can- 
ada, collected  by  William  Couper,  Esq.,  wlio  informs  mo 
this  species  is  occasionally  met  witli  there,  are  of  a  creamy- 
white  color,  like  that  of  the  eggs  of  E.  minimus  ;  each  egg 
having  a  very  few  pale  reddish-brown  dots.  The  form  of 
the  eggs  is  more  elongated  than  that  of  the  eggs  of  minimus, 
the  dimensions  being  .77  by  .53  inch,  and  .70  by  .55  inch. 


f  ■ 


EMPIDONAX  MINIMUS.  —  5(HVrf. 
The  Least  Flycatcher;  Chebeo. 
Tyramxda  mimmn,  William  M.  and  S.  F.  Raird.    Pr.  A.  N.  Sc.  I.  (July    1843) 
284.    lb.,  Silliin.  Am.  Jour.  Sc.  (July,  1844).    And.,  I$ii-ds  Amer.  VII.  (1844)  343, 

Descuiption. 
Second  quill  longest,  third  and  fourth  but  Utile  shorter,  fifth  a  little  leso  first 
intermediate  between  firth  and  sixth.;  tail  even;  above  olive-brown,  darker  on  the 
head,  becoming  paler  on  the  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts;  the  mi.hlle  of  the  back 
most  strongly  olivaceous;  the  nape  (in  some  individuals)  and  sides  of  the  liead 
tinged  witJi  ash;  a  ring  round  the  eye,  and  some  of  the  loral  feathers  white,  the  chin 
and  throat  white;  the  sides  of  the  throat  and  across  the  breast  dull-ash,  the  color  on 
the  latter  sometimes  nearly  obsolete  ;  sides  of  the  breast  similar  to  the  back,  but  of  a 
hghfer  tint;  middle  of  the  belly  very  pale  yellowish-white,  turning  to  pale  sulphur- 
yellow  on  the  sides  of  the  belly,  abdomen,  and  lower  tail  coverts;  wings  brown 


rmt 


142 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


two  nnrrow  whito  bands  on  winp,  furnipil  by  thn  tipi  of  thn  first  and  second  cov- 
erts, .succeeded  by  one  oi'  brown;  the  edge  of  the  first  primary,  and  of  the  second- 
aries and  tortials,  wliite;  tail  rather  iigliter  brown,  edffed  externally  like  the  back; 
feathers  narrow,  n<'t  acuminate,  with  the  ends  rather  blunt.  In  autumn,  the  whito 
parts  are  stroiiffly  tinned  with  yellow. 

Len^^th,  about  five  inciies;  wiiif,',  two  and  sixty-five  one-liundredths;  tail,  two 
and  lilty  one-luindredtlis. 

/la/).  —  Kastern  United  States  to  Missouri  plains. 

This  s])ocics  arrives  from  the  South  usually  about  the 
last  week  in  April.  The  birds  coinuieiice  l)uiUliiio;'  about 
the  20th  or  2.')th  of  ]\ray.  The  nest  is  placed  usually  in 
a  small  fork  of  a  limb  of  an  applc-trec,  in  the  orchard,  and 
often  quite  near  the  house :  it  is  composed  of  soft,  fine  grass, 
cobwT^bs,  twine,  cotton,  —  in  fact,  almost  any  thing  that  will 
help  to  make  a  smooth,  compact  fabric:  the  interior  is  lined 
with  soft  grass,  bristles,  fine  roots,  feathers,  and  wool.  1'he 
eggs  are  usinilly  four  in  number,  sometimes  three,  some- 
times five  :  they  are  of  a  beautiful  creamy-white  color ;  and 
their  form  is  nearly  pyriform,  being  abruptly  tapered  to  the 
small  end.  Dimensions  of  a  nest  complement  of  four  eggs, 
taken  at  random  from  a  large  number,  collected  in  different 
parts  of  New  England:  .(Ji}  by  .i>0  inch,  .04  by  .ol  inch, 
.61  by  .58  inch,  .60  by  .AB  inch.  This  species  often  breeds 
twice  in  the  season  in  New  England.  The  period  of  incuba- 
tion is  thirteen  days. 

This  bird,  being  very  abundantly  distributed  as  a  summer 
resident  throughout  New  England,  is  well  known,  and  its 
habits  arc  familiar  to  all.  It  prefers  the  neighborhood  of 
civilization,  and  is  most  fre(|uently  found  in  orchards  and 
gardens.  A  pair  once  built  in  an  apple-tree,  immediately 
beneath  my  chamber  window,  —  so  near  that  I  could  touch 
the  nest  Avith  a  rod  four  feet  in  length.  The  nest  was  com- 
menced on  the  5th  of  June,  and  was  finished  by  the  10th  : 
both  birds  working  in  its  construction.  The  female  laid 
four  eggs  in  three  days'  time,  and  commenced  sitting  when 
the  fourth  was  laid.  Both  birds  incubated,  and  the  male 
remained  on  the  nest  nearly  as  long  as  his  mate.     When  he 


,  f!   i 


THE  SMALL  ORKf:N-CRKSTi:i)    FLYCATCHKR. 


143 


was  ofT  the  nest,  ho  was  very  i.u-nacious ;  attacking  every 
bird  that  camo  near,  ami  even  ibi-cin^.  a  robhi  to  retreat,  so 
herco  was  the  onshu.oht  h.;  made  on  it.  Ho  always,  in 
attackni-  other  hirds,  uttered  his  shrill  ery,  ./u-i.'.,  oheheo 
und  sna,,,,ed  his  hill  l,„ully  ,nn\  f.ereely.  When  j.erehin.-' 
he  often  flirted  his  tail  in  the  manner  of  the  Phel.e;  and' 
every  few  sceonds,  he  emitted  his  note,-c'/u7>.^.,  ^'luUc 
Mco;  varied  sometimes  into  ehebCctrree-treo,  chehS c-treee- 
eheii. 

The  young  were  all  hatched  by  the  fourteenth  day,  and 
felt  the  nest  within  a  month  from  their  birth.  Th.>y  were  fed 
abundantly,  while  on  the  nest,  by  the  parents,  with  inseets, 
which  they  caught  and  crushed  between  their  bills-  they 
wore  fed  a  few  days  after  they  left  the  nost,  and  then  turned 
adrift;  the  parents  having  begun  another  nest  on  the  same 
tree. 

The  Least  Flycatelier  has  often  been  called  the  Small 
Green-crested  or  Acadiean  Flycatcher.  I  would  caution 
those  who  are  interested  in  the  history  of  these  birds  to 
observe  great  care,  and  bo  certain  of  their  identity  before 
naming  them. 

By  the  second  week  in  September,  it  leaves  on  its  south- 
ern migration. 

EMPIDONAX  ACADICUS.  — /?„/,•,/. 
The  Small  Green-crested  Flycatcher. 

fMmclcnpa  acn,1h'n ,  V.nwWn.     Syst.  x\at.,  I.  (1788)  947.     Ami.  Orn   Bioir    II 
(1834)  2.^0;  V.  (is,j|,)  421..     X„„.  Ma...,  I.  (1832)  208.  ^'' 

Mim-icnpa  gvtniln,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  11.  ( 1810)  77. 
Tijrnnmis  acin/hui,  Xuttall.     JIa.i.  I.  (2(1  fd.,  1840)  320. 

Ti.e  s..con,l  a.ul   thinl  quills  arc  l.,nf,Jt!'m,.l  al,n,.t  o,,ual;  tho  fourth  a  little 
hort.r,  t  ,.  „rst  al,o..t  e,ual  to  the  fifth,  and  about  thi,-ty-.ivo  ou..-l,„n,|n.,l,   . 
th.".  the  lo„,..st;  ta.l  oven;  the  upp..  pa,.t.s,  with  sides  of  the  head  and  neek,   ,Ii  e 
Kree.,    the  orown  very  little  if  any  darker;  a  yellowish-.hite  ri...  roun.l  the     v   • 
the  s.de..  of  the  hody  under  the  win^s  like  the  haek,  hut  fainterolPve,  a  tinfce  of    1.: 
same  across  the  b.enst;  the  chin,  throat,  and  middle  of  the  hell v  white;  tSe  ah!h.- 
men,  lower  ta.l  and  wing  coverts,  and  sides  of  the  hody  not  covi-red  hv  the  win.^s 
pale  greenish-yellow;  edge,  of  the  first  prhnary,  seconda,-ie.s,  and  tertials  mai-gh.^d 


~ji 


I ''J 


144 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


I>'l  '      i 


&' 


with  (lull  j'cllowiwh-wliite,  moRt  broadly  on  the  latter;  two  frnnsvorse  hnndii  of  piile- 
vt'lldwiMJi  across  the  Willis,  foriiii'il  by  the  tips  of  liie  Hecoiulary  and  iiriinary  eoverts, 
Hiieceeded  hy  a  brown  one;  tail  Ii);ht-bro\vn,  niarf^incd  externally  liitu  the  hack; 
upper  mandible  li^'lit-brown  above,  pale-yellow  beneath.  In  autumn,  the  lower 
parts  are  nioro  yellow. 

Length,  live  and  sixty-five  onc-hundredths  inches;  wlnj;,  tiircc;  tail,  two  and 
seventy-live  oiie-hundredllis  in-hes. 

JIii/j.  —  I'^astern  United  Slates  to  the  Mississippi. 

This  bird  is  a  rare  summer  iulialiitaiit  of  any  of  tlio  New- 
Eiiglaiul  States,  seldom  coming  so  far  north.  1  liave  had 
no  opportunities  of  observing  its  habits,  and  can  give  no 
description  from  my  own  observation.  Mr.  Allen  says  that 
it  brci;ds  in  swamps  and  low  moist  thickets,  which  are  its 
exclusive  haunts. 

Giraud,  in  his  "  Birds  of  Long  Island,"  says,  "In  habits, 
it  is  solitary ;  generally  seen  on  the  lower  branches  of  the 
largest  trees  ;  iittcrs  a  quick,  sharp  note  ;  arrives  among  us 
in  the  latter  part  of  May,  and  retires  southward  early  in 
September." 

I  have  no  nest,  Imt  understand  that  it  resembles  that  of 
the  Least  Flycatcher.  Five  eggs  before  me,  furnished  by 
J.  P.  Norris,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  arc  of  a  pale  creamy- 
white  color,  with  a  few  thin  spots  of  reddish-brown  scattered 
over  their  larger  end.  They  vary  in  size  from  .78  inch  in 
length  by  about  .56  inch  in  breadth,  to  .72  inch  in  length 
by  .55  inch  in  breadth.  The  form  is  like  that  of  U.  trailUi ; 
but  the  spots  arc  larger  and  more  numerous. 


|ii* 


OHCFNES.      8IN(;iN0   DIRDS. 


145 


SUB-ORDER  OSCINES.     Sinoino  Birds. 

Toe»,  threo  anterior,  one  behind,  „il  „t  the  snme  level,  nn.I  none  versatile   th« 
outer  ,„„..r,or  never  entirely  fVee  to  the  l„.o:  tail  leathers  ,w..|v        ri.n a  i        'i,  ! 
..neon  v..  else  the  first  is  spurious  or  n.ueh  shorter  than  the  se         ;:;.:: 
t.".th;  t«,l  leathers  ..sually  twelve;   tarsi  feathered  to  the  knee,  the  ,  Is      ' 
"  -nor  taee  either  ,W,.,1  into  one  or  with  .listinet  .livision«,  the  ^.i    ri^    p  r      . 

'U.nid,  or  M,h  .,nly  ntew  diviMonn  interiorly.    Oeeasionallv,  the  hinder  si  |..  h«« 
transverse  plates,  eorrespo.uli,,,.  i„  nnn.her  to  th,.  auterior;  hut    here  are   h  n      u    K 
none  on   he  sides.    Larynx  provided  with  «  peculiar  n.u.^.lnr  appurls  tbr  s    "  " 
composed  of  live  pairs  of  nuiseles.  "I  ('"wus  lor  singuig, 

Family  TURDiDiI<:.     T.ik  TnnrsiiES. 

The  following,  eharaetcristies  of  this  fan.ily  and  its  genera,  represented  in  New 

ugan.     .^..  g,v..„  hy  IVofessor  Speneer  K.  IJaird,  in  his  reeent  "  Hev  e J  of  tZ 

...nls^o.    North   An.erieu."   published   in   the   Sn.ithsonian   Miseella;;::r  cld.!!:! 

.eelnli'r'Tlr'  *,'"  ''"\"^  ^^•'"'•"  '«  ""•""•  ^P>'--  or  ,„ueh  shorter  than  the 
.  d.  1  lu.  .,11  .s  elonga.ed  and  subulate,  n,odera.,.|y  slender,  and  usually  notehed 
"t  t  p;  nos  rds  uneovred;  the  euhnen  n.oderately  ...rved  fron.  the  base  ,"^a  o 
"""■•"  -;  '  i;,-ided  with  bristlen.  exeept  in  „  few  cases.  Usunllv,  thJ  ,.  „ 
eover,ng  the  Irout  and  sides  of  the  tarsus  are  fused  into  one  eontinuou  p  Ite  e  Is" 
sear  ely  appreeu.ble,  exeept  on  the  inner  e.lge  only;  in  the  .Moeking  Thru  It  .e^ 
ns  .owever,  d,s„netly  n.arked.  The  lateral  toes  are  nearly  e.,u„l'the  Z^l^^ 
>l.e  longe  .  I  hese  general  ehanKtevU.ics  apply  also  to  the  l.Mr,  ,„„re  N 
spoken  ot  in  a  sueeeeding  page.  '  ^ 

The  peculiar  characteristics  of  the  family  T,„;U,hp  are  •  "  \v;n,r=  «,„  i      . 
rounded.  m.t  n.a..i,.g  beyond Id, •  „.  .,:!;::Z:^  ^^  ^^^  ^l 

'...II    I..    iH.g  h  ol  second  rpuil,  the  secon.l  <,uill  shorter  than  the  fourth.     In  the 
H;-nv.ng,  the  outer  seconda^  .aches  three-n.urths  or  more  the  length  of  1^:^ 

Professor  IJaird  divides  this  family  into  the  sub-families  Tnrdlnce,  which  have 

ar     CO.    rr     ':"^"^';"'>' "•""  ■•  -""••""-  P'^te,-  and  the  J//«»W,  wh         „  « 
arc  scutellate  anteriorly ;  scutcihe  seven. 

Snb-Fa»iili/  Tuunm.E. 

Nostrils  oval;  bristles  along  the  base  of  the  bill  from  gape  to  nostrils  those  of 


•il 


quill  longer  than  sixth;  outer  lateral  toes  longer;  wings  long. 

10 


1^  'i'u  m 
I.  I  ■ 


146 


OUNITIIOI.OCiY    AM)   OOLOGY. 


m 


TURDUS,  I.iNN.KUd. 

Tiinliit,  T.iNy.KUH,  Syitt.  Xiit.  (17.1.'.).  (Typi-  T.  cmc/iwwh,  fld..  (}.  |{.  Grny.) 
Hill  riiilicr  Htoiit;  (■(imiiiifsuri.  Ktniinlit  to  nnir  tli«  tip,  wliicli  is  (jiiitc  iiliriiptiv 
ili'curvi'd,  1111(1  iif<imlly  (livtiiicily  iidtiliccl;  ciiIhu'H  ^''I'tly  iiuivcx  from  \)hm-;  hill 
Hliortcr  tliaii  tlio  liciid,  Ixitli  oiitliiii'H  curved;  Inri-i  loiij,'t.r  tliiin  the  iiiidilli'  toe;  Intcnil 
toi'H  nc'iirly  ('(lunl,  outer  longer;  Willis  miieli  longer  lliiiii  tlic  tiiil,  pointed;  the  first 
f|iiill  .Hpiirious  and  very  miiiuII,  not  ono-Hmrtli  the  leiigtii  of  loiigcHt;  tuil  short,  nearly 
uvea,  or  slightly  uiiiarKinuto. 


*'■■  I 


fi^ 


•I     ; 


I"* 


TURDUS   MUSTELINUS.  —  Omirin. 
Tho  Song  Thrush ;  Wood  Thrush. 

Tiir'fim  munlrllniin,  Cmi'liii.  Sy.st.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  S17.  Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  343. 
And.  Orii.  llio^,,  I.  {IKVZ)  372;  V.  (IH.'iii)  .Ml). 

Tiiriliis  mi'lixlus,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  35,  pi   ii. 

DKSrltlPTION. 

Above,  clear  einifamoii-lirown,  on  the  top  of  the  head  liceoniinff  more  nifons,  on 

the  rump  and  tail  (divaeeous;  the  under  jiarts  are  eli'ai-white,  s elinies  tin^,'ed  with 

liiitV  on  tlu!  lireast  or  anteriorly,  and  thickly  ni.irked  heneath,  exci'pt  on  the  chin 
and  tlinjMt.  and  about  the  vent  anil  tail  coverts,  with  sub-triaoKular,  sharply  deline<l 
spots  of  blackish;  the  sides  of  the  head  arc  dark-brown,  streaked  with  white,  and 
there  is  also  a  maxillary  series  of  streaks  on  each  side  of  the  throat,  the  central  por- 
tion of  -which  sometin\es  has  indications  of  small  spots. 

Length,  eif^ht  and  ten-hundredths  inches:  wing,  four  anil  twenty-fivo  one-hiiu- 
dredtlis;  tail,  three  and  live  one-liuiulrcdihs;  tarsus,  one  and  twenty-six  oue- 
hundredths. 

yA(/!i.  —  Eastern  United  States  to  iMissouri  Hiver,  south  to  Guatemala. 

Tins  beautiful  song.stcr  in  a  pretty  coiuinon  summer 
inhabitant  of  ]\ras.saclmsolt.H,  Connecticut,  and  Rliodt; 
Island.  In  tlie  other  Xcw-Knuland  States,  it  is  rarely  set^n  ; 
and,  when  we  hear  of  a  Sony  Thrusli  ()cciirrin««-  there,  refer- 
ence is  prol)ahly  made  citlier  to  the  Ilcnnit  or  Olive-backed 
Thrush.  It  arrives  from  the  South  about  the  10th  ol'  May, 
l)otli  sexes  making  their  ap[)earance  at  about  tho  same  time. 
They  soon  commence  pairing,  and  frerpient  the  moist  thick- 
ets and  thickly  wooded  glens,  where  their  amours  are  con- 
ducted in  i)rivacy  and  peace. 

At  this  season,  the  beautiful  song  of  the  male  is  heard  at 
early  dawn  and  early  twilight :  it  seldom  sings  in  the  middle 
of  tho  day,  unless  the  weather  is  dark  and  cloudy.  This 
song  is  a  beautiful,  melancholy  strain,  similar  to  the  tone 


i 


THi  iONo  Tiinusn. 


If7 


producccl  on  a  flul,,:  th.,  notcH  arc  diir.cult  of  .Inscription. 
M.  Nut.ull,  u-ho  was  particularly  happy  in  ,,i,  descriptions 
ol  liiaksonjfH,  Hpoaivs  of  this  as  follows  :  — 

of  XZ^'^t  ';  'I"  ":-  '"""'''•"  "'""'^^  ^''«  'l'>"l'l-to,..„i„. 
«1  ..1.  us,.,.|.o,..s  fn.n.  Ins  H,.lH,uy  rctmu  like  tlu,  ,h-r«o  of  «o,„o  su.l 

eluse.«.o«hunsH.....y  haunts  of, in.     Th.  wl^h- .,  .li: 

usual  y  of  fo,„.  ,.,u,s.  or  bars,  wind.  hucooo.I,  in  cldilKTa,..  tin,. 

n.i   nnally  l.l.-n.l   to,..th..r   in   in.pr.s.sivo  and  .soothin,  l.arn 

n-nun.  n.oro  n.-iiow  and  .w..,  at  ov.ry  ...K-tition.     Hiva    n 

torn.ers  ..,„  to  ..halh-n,.,  .ad.  other  fn.n.  Lrions   parts     f'  ho 

wood,  vy.n,  fo.-  the  fhvor  of  thoir  urates  with  syn.pat   .tio  /   p     . 

K  wann  d.spu  ,.  hy  an  app.al  to  cunhat  and  vioh-uce.     Like  the 
^"  ■"  -..1  .  e  T  ..asiu.r,  in  dark  and  ,ioon.y  woath.-r.  wh...  o, 
l..nls  are  s  ,.Itore,l  and  silent,  the  elear  notes  of  the  Woo,,  T        , 
are  ,u.ard  t,u-ou«h  the  dropping  woo<,s,  f..o,„  .,awn  to  .,usk ;  so      a 
'Y  ""••'';":  ^'"'  '^''-v,  the  sweeter  and  n.ore  constant  is  ,us  son,     H^' 
.ear  and  .nterrupted  whistle  is  likewise  oftn.  nearly  the  outvoice 
ot  melody  heard  ,,y  the  trave.ller,  to  nnd-day,  in  the  h.-at  of  In  n- 
mer,  as  he  traverses  the  siient,  dark,  and  wooded  wih,erness,  remote 
fn.m  the  haunts  of  „,en.     It  is  nearly  i„.possih,e  by  word    to    o 
v.-y  any   .dea  of  the   peenliar  warl.le  of  this  voca,   hermit;  Z, 
|.m..,>,s^    ns  phrases,  the  sound  of  'airoer,  p.,.„,iarly  ,io„i,      , 
o  cnved  ,>y  a  trill,  r<,..ted  in  two  separate  bars,  is  n-adi  y  L::! 
/able      A    t.mes    their  notes  bear  a  considerable  resend  ance  I 
ho  eof  Udsons  Thrush:  such  as  ./.  Mtc  'rrMu,  then  varie 
U>J^.ll.a  r„u„  W.  rllUa  .rkeku,  then  'eh  relu  .illu,  high  and 

Abotit  the  20th  of  May,  tho  So,,.  Thrush  builds  its  net 
This  as  placed  usually  in  a  low  alder  or  birch  sl.nd),  in  a 
i-et.red  locahty,  ahnost  always  i>i  the  deep  woods  It  is 
cotnposed  outwardly  of  grass,  leaves,  and  weeds,  bent  and 
twined  together  In  this  is  built  a  nest  composed  of  m  d 
and  grass,  and  the  whole  is  lined  with  fibrous  roots  and  sof 
grass  and  moss.  It  is  placed  o,i  a  low  b,-anch  of  a  tree  or 
lu  the  branches  of  a  shrub.     I  give  Wilson's  description'  of 


148 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Pk 


ni 


the  nost,  not  because  it  is  essentially  different  from  my  own, 
but  to  confirm  my  own  observation,  and  to  help  clear  up 
the  confusion  that  exists  in  many  districts  concei-ning  the 
identity  of  the  thrushes.     It  is  as  follows :  — 

"  The  favorite  haunts  of  the  Wood  Thrush  are  low,  thick-shaded 
hollows,  through  which  a  small  brook  or  rill  meanders,  overlmng 
with  cedar-bushes  that  are  mantled  with  wild  vines.  Near  such  a 
scene,  he  generally  builds  his  nest  in  a  lau.el  or  alder  bush.  Out- 
wardly, it  is  composed  of  with.ered  beech-leaves  of  the  preceding 
year,  laid  at  bottom  in  considerable  quantities,  no  doubt  to  prevent 
damp  and  moisture  from  ascending  through,  being  generally  built 
in  lov/,  wet  s'tu'^tions :  above  tliese  are  layers  of  knotty  stalks  or 
withered  g  .ss,  mixed  with  mud,  and  smoothly  plastered,  above 
which  is  hid  a  slight  lining  of  fine  black  fibrous  roots  of  plants." 

Tl)e  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number ;  they  are  of  a  uni- 
form light-Hue  color,  without  spots,  and  with  a  very  slight 
tint  of  green  ;  their  form  is  rather  long  and  pointed.  The 
following  are  the  dimennions  of  a  nest  complement  of  four 
eggs,  found  in  Milton.  Mass. :  1.12  by  .68  inch,  1.12  by  .69 
inch,  1.07  by  70  inch,  1  by  .73  inch.  But  one  brood  is 
usually  1  eared  in  the  season  'n  New  England. 

TUEDUS  PALLASIL—Cahnnis. 
The  Hermit  Thrusj, 

Turdus  pallnm,  Calianis      Wiofrpnan's  Ardiiv.  (1S47;,  I.  205. 

Timhis  no!ilnriiis,  Wilson.  Am.  On.,  V.  (1812)  95  (not  of  Linnivus.  The  fijriire 
qnntLu  1>I.  xliii.  iifi.  2.  belonf,.4  to  T.  Swainswiii).  And.  Syn.  (18.3'J).  lb.,  Birds 
Am.,  IIL  (ir+1)  2!i,  pi.  140. 

Tiiriliis  minor,  Honaparte.  Obs.  Wilson  (1825),  No.  72.  lb,,  fvn.  nS28),  75. 
Niitt.  Man.,  L  (1830)  340.     And.  Orn.  Uiog.,  L  (1831)  303;  V.  4*5,  pi.  58. 

Dkscru'tion. 
Fourth  quill  longest;  third  and  fourth  a  little  shorter;  .seeond  ahout  n/nal  to  the 
Fixth  (al)iiut  a  thirtieth  of  ar.  in^!i  snortrr  than  the  longest);  tail  slightly  ernargi- 
nate;  above  light  olive-brown,  with  a  searri'ly  perct'iilihli!  shade  of  reddish,  passing, 
however,  into  decided  rufous  on  the  riiir.p,  upper  tail  eoverts,  and  tail,  and  to  a  less 
degree  on  the  outjr  surface  of  the  wings;  heniNitli  white,  with  a  scan'elv  'ppr.Hiable 
shade  of  pale-bufF  across  the  fore  part  of  the  breast,  and  sometimes  o>i  the  throat; 
the  sides  of  the  throat  and  the  fore  part  of  the  breast  with  rath"r  siiarply  defined 


;  ii-f 


■}*   V 


THE   HERMIT  THRUSH. 


149 


the  back    a  whiti.li  ri^'ro,  t  1  ^^'  "         "'"  ''"'^'  '"'  "^  P"'-^^  ^'"'de  than 

paler.  ^  '"""^  ''''  ^^^'  ^'»'^  ^'"^^''t^  very  obscurely  streaked  with 

oue-lunHredthB.  '  ^  t>,enty-flve  one-hundredths;  tardus,  one  and  sixteen 

//«6.  -  Eastern  North  America  to  the  Mississippi  River. 

This  bird,  althougli  not  so  well  known  in  Massachusetts 
Connecticut,  and  Rhode  Island,  is   quite  familiar  to    1  e' 

rt  "  ,      1  ""^'^'^'^  "^  ""'''  ^^"^•^-^^-    ''  arrives  from 
the  Sou  h  abou    the  middle  of  April,  and  pas.es  leisurely 
0  the  Noz-th,  where  it  arrives  about  the  middle  of  May 
It  very  seldom  breeds  in  any  districts  south  of  the  latittide 
o    the  muldle  of  Maine;  and  fron.  thence  north  it  is  q  it 
abundant    where  it  is  known  by  the  name  of  the  slZ 
Ro  un.     I  have  been  so  foitut.ate  as  to  find  several  ne  ts 
ot  tins  species ;  and  they  were  all  built  in  very  low  scrubbv 
trees  or  bushes,  quite  near  the  ground.     Tlfey  ^:^         t' 
pose     of  tw,o.s,  glasses,  mosses,  and  leaves     they  w" 
deeply  hollowed,  and  no  nunl  was  used  in  their  composition 
as  With  several  other  species;    they  were  lined  with  sc^t' 
grasses,  mosses,  a..d  fine  fibrous  roots.     The  e^gs  were  in 
one  nest,  three  in  number;  and,  in  the  others,  four.  This  4^" 
about  t  e  10th  of  Tune.     The  localities  wer;  in  the  ^^  l^! 
borhood  of  Lake  Un.bagog  a.ul  in  the  valley  of  the  Maoll- 
loway  R.vor  m  Maine.     The  eggs  of  this  species  are  of  a 
somewhnt  elongated  oval  fonn,  and  their  color  is  a  li..ht- 
blue  with  a  very  fai.it  tint  of  gree.i :  ''  about  one  in  evxny 
iour  has  very  thinly  scattered  spots  of  reddish-brown,  and 
occasionally   one   is   met   with   having    an    abundance   of 
coarser    .pots    of    two    shades    of    brown."      Dimensions 
ot  «Pocunens  from  various  localities  vary  from  .92  by  .65 
to  .^S(S  by  .()0  inch. 

Mr.  C.  L  Paine,  of  Randolph,  Vt.,  writes  me  that  he  has 
found  numbers  of  the  nests  of  this  bird,  and  that  thov  were 
nivariab.y  built  on  the  ground.     Uo  also  savs  that  the  e-gs 


150 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


ttlM  t  ■'  ^ 


arc  always  blue  in  color,  and  he  has  never  met  with  one 
that  was  spotted  in  any  manner.  I  have  quite  a  number 
of  specimens  in  my  collection,  and  not  one  is  spotted.  I 
have  also  seen  many  others,  and  they  were  not  marked ;  and 
I  think  tliat  the  above  quotation  must  be  received  with  cau- 
tion. A  nest  sent  mo  from  Upton,  :^^e.,  is  composed  almost 
entirely  of  mosses.     It  contains  five  cgys,  all  unspotted. 

Mr.  Paine  writes  mo  that  the  Olive-backed  Thrush  breeds 
in  his  neighborhood,  which,  with  the  other,  are  the  only 
•  thrushes  breeding  there.     In  answer  to  his  remark  that 
the  Hermit  Thrush  always  builds  on  tlie  ground,  I  can  only 
say  that  I  found  the  nests  as  above.     I  have  noticed  that 
the  Tawny  or  Wilson's  Thrush  builds  on  the  ground  in 
some  localities  and  in  bushes  in  others,  and  conclude  tliat 
the  Hermit  is  also  variable  in  its  choice  of  a  nesting-place. 
The  habits,  song,  and  general  characteristics  of  this  bird 
are  almost  exactly  similar  to  those  of  the  Song  Thruslh 
Its  song  resembles  it  so  much,  that  I  always  supposed  the 
bird  was  the  same,  until  I  examined  some  of  tliem  that  I 
heard   singing,   when   I   found   my  mistake.      About   the 
middle  of  October,  the  last  individuals  that  are  seen  in 
Massachusetts  leave  for  the  South.     At  tliis  time,  as  in  the 
spring,  they  are  silent  and  shy :  their  note  is  a  faint  chirp, 
uttered   in   a  listless,  melancholy  tone;    and  tlicir  whole 
appearance  is  in  keeping  with  tlie  great  ciiange  which  has 
come  over  the  face  of  Nature.     In  fact,  the  Hermit  Thrush 
is  always  associated  in  my  mind  with  the  falling  of  leaves, 
the   rattling  of   acorns,  and   the  whirring   of  the   RntTed 
Grouse   through   the   birches   and   alders  of  the  swampy 
glens. 

TDRDUS   FUSCESCENS.  —  .S/fv^/fens. 

The  Tawny  Thrush;  Wilson's  Thrush, 

Tiirdiis  fiisccsceni,  St  jJiens.     Sliaw's  Zciol.  liirds,  X.  (1817)  182.    Grav  Genera 
(1849). 

Tiirdiis  miishl!iiii.i,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  V.  (1S12)  08  (not  of  Cm.). 
Tiinhis  WiUiiii,  Nuttall.     Man.,  I.  (18.32)  .349.    Aud.  Orn.  IJioy.,  II.  (1834)  302, 
V.  440.     lb.,  IJirils  Am.,  III.  (1841)  27,  pi.  145. 


THE   TAWNY  THRUSH, 


161 


Description. 
Third  quill  longest,  fourth  a  little  .shorter,  second  nearly  a  quarter  of  an  inch 
louger  than  the  tilth,  above,  and  on  sides  of  head  and  nek,  nearly  uniform  light 
reddish-brown,  wth  a  faint  tendency  to  orauRe  on  the  crown  and  tail;  beneath 
white,  the  fore  part  of  tl>e  breast  and  throat  (paler  on  the  chin)  tinged  with  pale 
brownish-yellow,  in  decided  contrast  to  tlie  white  of  the  bellv;  the  sides  of  the 
throat  and  the  lore  part  of  the  breast,  as  colored,  are  marked  with  small  trian-ular 
spots  ot  Wbrownish,  nearly  like  the  hack,  but  not  well  dcHned;  there  are  a  few 
obsolete  blotches  on  the  sides  of  the  breast  (in  the  white)  of  pale-olivaceous  the 
Mdes  of  the  body  tiuged  with  the  san>e;  tibhe  white;  the  lower  mandible  is  brown- 
ish only  at  the  tip;  the  lores  are  ash-colored. 

Length,  seven  and  tifty  one-liundredtlis  inches;  wing,  four  and  twentv-flve  one- 
h.indredths;  tail,  three  and  twenty  oue-hundredths  inches;  tarsus,  one  mid  twenty 
oiie-huiidredtlis.  ^ 

//„i._  |.:astcru  Xorth  America  to  the  Jlissnuri,  north  to  f\ir  countries. 

This  species  is  well  distinguished  among  the  American  thrushes  by  the  indis- 
tinctness ot  the  spots  beneath,  and  their  being  conlined  mainly  to  the  fore  part  of 
the  breast.  In  some  specimens,  there  is  a  faint  teiidencv  to  a  more  vivid  color  on 
the  rump;  but  this  is  usually  like  the  buck,  which  is  very  nearlv  the  color  of  the 
rump  in  T.  jmiUhhu. 

This  quite  common  species  is  a  summer  inhabitant  of 
southern  New  Enghmd.   It  is  quite  abundant  until  we  reach 
the  soutlicrn  portions  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Ver- 
mont, when  it  begins  to  grow  less  common  until  we  reach  the 
latitude  of  thG  middle  of  these  States,  whore  it  begins  to  be 
replaced  by  the  Hermit  Thrush,  and  soon  ceases  to  occur  to 
the  north  of  this  latitude.     It  makes  its  fvppearance  from 
the  South  about  the  Hrst  week  in  May,  often  earlier,  and 
commences  building  about  the  20th  of  May.     The  nest  is 
placed  occasionally  in  a  low  shrul),  or  tangled  clump  of 
briers,  usually  on  the  ground.     The  situation  is  retired, 
often  in  the  depths  of  the  woods.     The  nest  is  constructed 
of  grass,  leaves,  and  weeds ;  in  some  cases,  the  outer  bark 
of  the  grape-vine  is  the  principal  material  used :  it  is  quite 
thoroughly  made,  and  is  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with 
fine  roots  and  horsehair.     The  eggs  are  usually  four  in 
number,  sometimes  five  ;  their  color  is  bluish-green,  deeper 
than  tliat  of  the  eggs  of  the  Hermit  Thrush,  but  not  so  dark 
as  in  those  of  the  Cat  Bird  ;  their  form  is  generally  an  oval, 
sometimes  lengthened  and  sharpened ;  their  average  size  is' 


152 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


about  .90  by  .0(3  incb.  As  in  many  otber  eggs,  tbe  longest 
specimens  are  not  always  tbe  broadest.  Tbe  following  are 
tbe  dimensions  of  four  eggs,  taken  at  random  from  a  large 
number  of  tbis  species :  .92  by  .6-1  incb,  .88  by  .04  incb, 
.86  by  .66  incb,  .87  by  .07  incb. 

From  tbe  first  arrival  of  tbis  bird,  during  its  wbole  stay 

here,  it  seems  to  i)refer  tbe  neigbborbood  of  a  swampy  wood 

for  its  borne.     Tbcre,  during  tbe  mating  and  incubating 

seasons,  tbe  notes  of  tbe  male  may  be  beard  at  tbe  earliest 

bours  of  the  morning  and  evening ;  and,  in  cloudy  woatber, 

tbrougb  tbe  day,  and  sometimes  in  tbe  nigbt.     Tbe  song  is 

a  peculiar  one,  witb  a  singular  metallic  ring,  exceedingly 

difficult   to   describe:   it   begins  quite   loud,  tbe   syllables 

cheury,  cheury,  cheury,  chHiry,  decreasing  in  tone  to  a  quite 

faint  lisp;  tbcn,  after  a  sbort  pause,  tbe  notes,  clumi  'twit, 

tritter,  'tritter,  are  uttered ;  and  tbe  wbole  is  finislied  usually 

witb  tbe  ejaculation,  chickwheu.     Tbis   song   is  often  tct 

peatcd ;  and  sometimes  two  or  tbree  males,  porcbing  on  a 

low  sbrub  or  tree,  emulate  eacb  otber  in  a  musical  contest 

tbat  is  very  pleasing  to  bear.     Tbis  tbrusb,  as  are  all  tbe 

otbcrs,  is  eminently  insectivorous ;  and  tbrougb  tbe  wbole 

day  be  may  be  beard  busily  scarcbing  among  tbe  fallen 

leaves  for  bis  favorite  food. 

About  tbe  lOtb  of  September,  it  leaves  for  tbe  Soutb :  at 
tbis  time,  like  most  of  tbe  otbers,  it  is  silent  and  retiring, 
and  is  found  only  in  localities  tbat  are  tbickly  wooded  witb 
a  growth  of  small  bircbes  and  oaks. 


TUEDUS   SW Al^SOmi.—  Oibanis. 
The  Olive-backed  Thrush;  Swainson's  Thrush. 

Turdus  SiraiimiiH.    (,'ali.  in  Tsi'lmdi  F.  IVruana  (1844-40)  1S8. 
Tunliis  sulitarius,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  V. 

Deschiption. 

Third  quill  lonpcst,  second  and  fourth  but  little  shorter,  and  much  longer  than 
the  fifth  (by  thirty-tive  one-hundredths  of  an  inch);  upper  i)arts  uniform  olivaceous, 
with  a  decided  shade  of  green;  the  fore  part  of  lireast,  the  throat,  and  chin,  i)alt! 
brownish-yellow;  rest  of  lower  parts  white,  the  sides  washed  with  brownish-olive; 


THE  OLIVE-BACKED  THRUSH. 


153 


This  species  is  the  least  common  of  all  the  Ncw-En<.land 
thrushes.     It  is  rarely  observed  in  its  passage  through  the 
southern  portions  of  these  States,  and  only  begins  to  choose 
a  home  for  the  summer  on  arriving  at  the  northern  districts. 
I  have  looked  for  it  repeatedly,  but  have  not  been  able  to 
find  It  south  ol  the  latitude  of  Lake  Umbagog,  in  the  breed- 
mg  season ;  and  even  there  it  is  not  often  met  with      It 
arrives  in  the  localities  whore  it  breeds  about  tlie  first  week 
in  June.     In  c^ommon  with  the  Hermit  Tlu-ush,  it  is  called 
he      hwamp  Robin,"  and  can  hardly  l)e  distiuguislied  from 
that  bird,  either  by  its  song,  which  is  beautiful,  or  bv  its 
breeding  habits  or  nests.     The  eggs  are  different,  bein</of  a 
deeper  green  color:  they  are  ahvays  (so  far  as  mvexnori- 
eiicc  goes)  thinly  spotted  with  dots  and  blotches  of  reddisli 
and  brown.     The  following  are  the  dimensions  of  four  e-os 
that  1  found  in  a  nest  near  Wilson's  Mills,  Me.,  on  the  iTth 
of  June,  1804:  .<):}  by  .04  inch,  .03  by  M  inch,  .92  by   GO 
inch,  .l»0  by  .Ol  inch.  ^  ' 

The  only  difference  in  the  habits  of  this  species  from  those 
of  the  Ilerm.t  Ihrush  is,  that,  while  the  latter  is  most  usually 
found  m  swampy  localities,  the  other  is  most  often  seen  in 
dry  scrubby  woods,  where  it  is  almost  always  busily  engaoed 
in  the  pursuit  of  its  favorite  insect  food. 

J.  A  Allen,  in  his  paper  on  the  birds  of  Springfield, 
Mass.,  before  referred  to,  is  of  the  opinion  that  this  species 


!«' 


1; 

r-n- 

M 

1 

i)    ■  > 


154 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


and  tlic  Tunlus  alicice  are  the  samo.  In  a  conversation  with 
Professor  Baird,  since  the  issue  of  Allen's  pajjcr,  I  was  in- 
formed, that,  in  a  large  suite  of  specimens  of  hoth  sijccies, 
to  which  he  had  access,  he  co\ild  identify  each  hy  character- 
istics so  fixed  that  any  confusion  was  impossible :  he  was 
of  the  opinion  that  Mr.  Allen  had  not  seen  the  bird  he  calls 
alicia'.  I  have  thereibro  not  given  that  sjiecies  as  a  bird  of 
New  England,  and  think  that  it  yet  remains  to  be  proved  as 
such. 

Dr.  Bryant,  in  describing  the  habits  of  the  Olive-hacked 
Thrush,  says: — 

"  Its  note  differs  entirely  from  that  of  T.  pallasii,  and  the  birds 
also  difter  very  mucli  in  their  Jiabits ;  tlio  latter  species  being  gen- 
erally seen  on  the  ground,  while  the  Olive-backed  Tlirusli  prefers 
to  procure  its  food  among  the  brandies.  Tire  one  seen  at  IMg  I\Iud 
Lake,  Grand  Manan,  was  perclied  on  the  top  of  a  small  dwarf-fir, 
and  was  Inniting  the  passing  insects  with  all  the  dexterity  of  a 
ty2)ical  Flycatcher." 

TURDUS   MIGRATORIUS.  —  Liimceus. 

The  Robin. 

Tunlus  mi;/rnfi>rius,  Liiiiianis.  Syst.  Nat.,  L  (17G6)  292.  Wilson,  Am.  Orn  ,  L 
(1808)  35.     And.  Oni.  lii(>t,r,  II.  (1834)  190. 

Mtvula  niiijratoria,  Sw.  and  Kicii.    Fauna  ISor.  Amer.,  II.  (1831)  170. 

DlCSflill'TIOX. 

Third  and  fourth  quills  nbciut  c(iual,  iitth  a  little  shorter,  socond  longer  than 
fixth;  tail  slijjfhtly  rounded;  above  olive-gray,  top  and  sides  of  the  head  hhick; 
chin  and  thnjat  white,  streaked  with  blaek;  I'vejids,  and  a  spot  atxive  the  eye  an- 
teriorly, white;  under  jiarts  and  inside  of  tlie  wings  ehestnut-brown;  the  under  tail 
coverts  and  anal  region  with  til)iie  white,  showing  the  plumbeous  imier  portions  of 
the  feathers;  wings  dark-brown,  the  li/athers  all  edged  more  or  less  with  pale-ash; 
tail  still  darker,  the  extreme  feathers  tipjied  with  white;  bill  yeflow,  dusky  along  the 
ridge  and  at  the  tip. 

Length,  nine  and  seventy-live  (ine-lunulreilths  inches;  wing,  five  and  forty-three, 
one-hinidredths;  tail,  four  and  seventy-live  one-hiindredths  inches;  tarsus,  one  and 
twenty-tive  one-hundredths. 

Jla//.  —  Continent  of  North  .\meriea  to  Mexico. 

It  is  very  seldom  that  specimens  exhibit  the  cidors  exactly  as  described.  Nearly 
always  in  winter,  and  in  most  cases  at  other  times,  the  rulbus  feathers  are  nnirgineil 
MJth  whitish,  sometimes  quite  obscuring  the  color.     The  black  feathers  of  tiie  head. 


THE   ROUIN. 


156 


f.  two  o,elids  a.  sepa^ted  .o,„  oa.l.  otl^e^'^.r^  ri  pi!:.;;!;:  '''''^  ^ 

This  veiy  common  and  well-known  bird  is  a  snmmer  i.i- 
habitant  of  all  Now  England,  and,  in  mild  winters,  remains 
m  the  sonthern  districts  of  these  States  through  the  year. 
Iho   great   body   of   the  o  ;       • 

birds,     however,     arrive 
from  .  the    South    about 
the    middle    of    j\rarch. 
They    commence    build- 
ing from  the  middle  of 
Api'il   to   the   first  week 
in  May,  according  to  lati- 
tude.    The  nest  is  built 
more  often  in  the  trees  of 
the  orchards  and  gardens,  near  houses,  than  in  the  deep 
,':■  ,  V'  ^  ^^'S'"'  •^^'^^'^^•''^tely  built  atfair,  constructed  first 
ol  a  t  uck  layer  of  straws,  weeds,  roots,  and  mosses  :  on  this 
IS  budt  the  nest  pro,)or,  which  is  made  of  straws  and  weeds, 
woven  together  in  a  circular  form,  and  plastered  togethei' 
with  mud;   this  is  lined  with  soft  grasses  and  moss,  the 
whole  making  a  durable  structure,  often  holding  tooether 
throngh  the  entire  year.    The  eggs  are  usually  four  in'  mim- 
ber :  their  color  is  a  beautiful  greenish-blue,  almost  the  same 
anhat  of  the  AVood  Thrush's  egg,  which  they  resemble  in 
shape,  except  they  are  a  trifle  broader.     Dimensions  of  a 
ncst-cmiplenient  of  four  eggs:  1.10  by  .82  inch,  l.lG  bv  8'> 
]"cl.,  1.10  by  .75  inch,  1.10  by  .80  inch.    Manv  cases  occur, 
mthe  southern  districts  of  Ne^v  Englnnd,  of  two  broods 
being  reared  in   the  season,  and  1  have  known   of  three 
broods  being  reared  in  Massachusetts ;  but,  in  the  northern 
districts,  1  think  that  the  second  brood  is  the  exception 
instead  of  the  rule.  ' 

Perhaps  none  of  our  ])irds  are  more  unpopular  with  horti- 
culturists than  this;  and  I  will  here  give  the  observations 


-  Jml..M:J 


■  I     r  ui 


il<-fi 

ll 


SlH 


Ij 


' 

:     J 

ll 

1 

:  1 

't 

1    V 
i,    ■ 

156 


ORNITHOLO(iy    AND    OOLOGY. 


of  difreroiit  scientific  men,  and  my  own,  to  show  that  the 
prejiidicc  against  the  bird  is  unjust  and  unfounded,     Mv. 
TrouNclot,  of  Medford,  Mass.,  who  is  engaged  in  rearing 
silkworms,  for  tlie  prochiction  of  silk,  is  troubled  by  the 
Robin  to  a  degree  surj)assing  most  other  birds.     He  has  a 
tract  of  about  seven  or  eight  acres  enclosed,  and  mostly 
covered  with  netting.     He  is  obliged,  in  self-defence,  to  kiJl 
the  birds  which  i)enetrate  into  the  enclosure  and  destroy  the 
worms.     Through  the  season,  probably  ten  robins,  for  one 
of  all  others,  thus  molest  him  ;  and,  of  scores  of  the.;o  birds 
wliich  he  has  opened  and  examined,  none  had  any  fruit  or 
berries  in  their  stomachs,  —  uothing  but  insects.     It  is  lo 
be  understood  that  this  was  not  in  a  part  of  the  sunni'er 
when  berries  were   unripe:    on   the   contrary,   it   was   all 
tlu'ough  the  season.     His  land  is  surrounded  with  scrul)- 
oaks  and   huckleberry-bushes.      Tiieso  latter  were  loaded 
with  fruit,  which  was  easier  of  access  to  the  birds  than  the 
worms  ;  but  none  were  found  in  tliem.     lie  says  they  came 
from  all  quarters  to  destroy  his  silkworms,  and  gave  him 
more  trouble  tlian  all  the  other  birds  together.     He  said 
that,  in  his  opinion,  if  the  birds  were  all  killed  off,  vegeta- 
tion would  be  entirely  destroyed.     To  test  the  destructive- 
ness  of  these  marauders,  as  he  regarded  them,  he  jdaced  on 
a  small  scrub-oak  near  his  door  two  thousand  of  his  silk- 
worms.     (Tliese,  let  me  say,  resemble,  when  small,  the 
young  caterpillar  of  the  apple-tree  motli.)     In  a  very  few 
days  they  were  all  eaten  by  Cat-birds  and  llobins,  —  birds 
closely  allied,  and  of  the  same  habits.      This  was  in  tlie 
berry  season,  when  an  abundance  of  this  kind  of  food  was 
easily  accessible;   but  they  preferred  his  worms.      AVliy? 
Because  the  young  of  these,  as  well  as  those  of  most  otlier 
birds,  must  be  fed  on  animal  food.     Earthworms  assist  in 
the  regimen  ;  but  how  often  can  birds  like  the  Robin,  Cat- 
bird, Thrush,  &c.,  get  these  ?    Any  farmer  knows,  that,  when 
the  surface  of  the  ground  is  dry,  they  go  to  the  subsoil,  out 
of  the  reach  of  birds ;  and  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  say 


TIIK   ROBIN. 


157 


wliat  proportion  of  tlio  time  the  ^voxuxd  is  very  dry  tlirougli 
ti.e  summer.  Caterpillars,  grul)s  of  various  kinds,  and 
insects,  therefore  constitute  the  chief  food  of  these  birds ; 
and  of  these,  caterpillars  and  frnihs  l,ein<,^  the  most  abun- 
dant, and  most  easily  caught,  furnish,  of  course,  the  lander 
l)r()portion.  " 

In  fact,  the  Thrushes  seem  designed  by  nature  to  rid  the 
surface  of  the  soil  of  noxious  insects  not  often  pursued  by 
most  other  birds.     The  warblers  capture  the  insects  that 
prey  on  the  foliage  of  the  trees  ;  the  (Ivcatchers  seize  these 
insects  as  they  fly  from  the  trees;   the  swallows  capture 
those  which  have  escaped  all  these  ;  the  woodpeckers  destroy 
them  when  in  the  larva  state  in  the  wood ;  the  wrens,  nut- 
hatches, titmice,  and  creepers  eat  the  eggs  and  youii'T-  that 
live  on  and  beneath  the  l)ark  ;  Init  the  thrushes  subsist  on 
those  that  destroy  the  vegetation  on  the  surface  of  the  earth 
They  destroy  nearly  all  kinds  of  grubs,  caterj.illars,  and 
M'orms  that  live  upon  the  greensward  and  cultivated  soil, 
and  large  quantities  of  crickets  and  grasshoj.pers  before 
they  have  become  perfect  insects.     The  grubs  of  locusts, 
of  harvest-flies,  and  of  beetles,  wliicli  are  turned  up  by  the' 
plough  or  the  hoe,  and  their  pupse  wlien  emerging  from  the 
soil ;  apple-worms,  when  they  leave  the  fruit  and  crawl  about 
in  quest  of  new  shelter  ;  and  those  subterranean  caterpillai-s, 
the  cutworms,  that  come  out  of  the  earth  to  take  their  food,— 
all  these,  and  many  others,  are  eagerly  devoured  by  the 
Kobni  and  other  Thrushes.     The  cutworms  emerge  from 
the  soil  during  the  night  to  seek  for  food;  and  the  Robin 
which  is  one  of  the  earliest  birds  to  go  abroad  in  tlie  morn- 
iMg,  IS  very  diligent  at  the  dawn  of  day  in  hunting  for  these 
vermin  before  they  have  gone  back  into  their  retreat.     The 
number  of  these  destructive  grubs  is  immense.     "  Whole 
cornfields,"  says  Dr.  Harris,  "  are  sometimes  laid  waste  )>y 
them.    Cabbage-plants,  till  they  are  grown  to  a  considerable 
size,  are  very  apt  to  be  cut  otf  and  destroyed  by  them.     Po- 
tato-vines, beans,  beets,  and  various  othJr  culinary  plants, 


>i 


r       i 

'Is         ! 


IM 


nm 


OUNITIIOLOOY    AND   OOLOOY. 


.     i 


if", 

r, 


t    %!     i 


:i 


!  '|i  f  : 


\i\r 


It^' 


fN 


Hulliu-  ill  tlio  Hiuno  way."     Tlio  scM-vicos  ol'  (Ik,  n.hins,  in 

(liistroyiiij;-  tlioso  iiloiio,  would  moru  tliiiii  pay  Ibnill  tlio  IViiit 

tlicy  (h'voiir.    liidood,  duriiifj:  tlio  brooding  Hoasoii,  a  robin  is 

Hcldoni  seen  without  biivin^-  in  bis  nioiitb  oiio  of  tlioso  cator- 

pilliirs,  or  soiiio  siniilMr  ^riib,  u biob  Ik;  dcsij^ns  for  bis  young; 

and  us  tbo  iioliin  ol'ton  raisos  tbroo  iiroods  of  young  during 

tbo  soasoii,  bis  specios  must  dostroy  luoro  of  tbis Class  of 

noxious  insoots  tban  almost  all  oduu-  birds  togotbor.     In 

my  own  gardoning  oxporionoos,  1  bavo  bad  my  Cull  sbaro  of 

cufworms;  and   1  bavo  always  iioticod  tbo   i?ohin,   lb-own 

Tbrusb,  and  Cat-bird  busy  oarly  in  tbo  morning,— almost 

Ix^foro  otlior  birds  aro  out  of  tboir  loatbor-bods,  ligurativoly 

speaking,  — catobing   tboso   vormin    and   oating    tliom,   or 

carrying  tbom  lor  food  to  tboir  young. 

To  sbow  I'urtbor  tbo  food  of  tbis  biril,  I  present  tlie  follow- 
ing oxprrimont.  At  a  mooting  of  tbo  JJoston  Sooioty  of 
Natural  History,  a  (iommunioation  was  iv;ul  from  Profossor 
Troadwoll,  of  Cambridge,  giving  u  drlailod  aooount  of  tbo 
feeding  and  growtli  of  tbis  l)ird  during  a  ja-riod  of  tbirty- 
two  days,  commencing  witb  tbe  'Ah  of  June.    Tbo  following 

is  tbo  substance  of  tbis  report: 

Wbon  caugbt,  the  two  were  quite  young,  tboir  tail  foatbors 
being  less  tban  an  iucli  in  length,  and  tbo  weight  of  oacb 
about  twenty-five  pennyweights,  — loss  than  half  the  weight 
of  the  full-grown  birds:  both  were  plump  and  vigorous,  juid 
bad  evidently  been  very  recently  turned  out  of  tbe  nest. 
lie  began  feeding  tliem  witb  earthworms,  giving  tlireo  to 
eacli  bird  tliat  night.     Tiie  second  day,  bo  gave  tliem  ten 
worms  cacli,  wliieli  they  ato  ravenously.      Thinking  this 
beyond  wbat  tboir  parents  could  naturally  supply  thenrwilh, 
bo  limited  them  to  this  allowance.    On  the  third  di.y,  be  gavJ 
tbein  eight  worms  each  in  tbo  forenoon  ;  but  in  the  afternoon 
bo  found  one  becoming  feeble,  and  it  soon  lost  its  strength, 
refused  food,  and  died.     On  opening  it,  be  found  tbe  pro- 
ventriculus,  gizzard,  and  intestines  entirely  empty,  and  con- 
cluded tlieroforo  that  it  died  from  want  of  sufficient  food ; 


'     I 


Til  10    UOUIN. 


loU 


tlic  ofll'ct  of  lmiif?(>r  iM'injr  iiicroiisisd  porlmps  by  tho  cold, 
UH  (ho  tli<'rm()iii((t(!r  wiis  iihoiit,  sixty  dci^rccs. 

Tho  ()(h(T  hinl,  Htill  vi;.()n)iin,  ho  put  in  ii  waniior  phioo, 
iiiid  iiicnuisod  itn  food,  giviiij--  it  tho  third  day  (irtoon  worms, 
on  th(!  fourth  (hiy  twoiity-lbur,  on  Iho  liflh  twonty-fivo,  on 
th(!  sixth  thirty,  and  on  tho  sovonth  thirty-one  worms.    Th(!y 
so(«ni('(l    iiisulliciiMit,  and    tho  bird  uppoarod    to    Im;   h)sin<,^ 
l)himpnoss  and  woi-ht.     Il(!  boj^^an  to  wtMgh  boili  tlio  bird 
and  its  food,  and  tho  rosults  won;  nivcn  in  a  tabuhir  form. 
On  tho  liftoonth  (hiy,  ho  triod  a  small  (piantity  of  raw  meat, 
and,  (indiiifi;  it  i-cadily  oaten,  incroasod  it  gradually,  to  tho 
exolusion  of  worms.     With  it  tlio  bird  ato  a  hirgo  (luantity 
of  earth  and  graved,  and  drunk  freely  after  oating.     J]y  tho 
lal)le,  it  appears  that  though  the  food  was  increased  to  forty 
worms,  weighing  twenty  pennyweights,  on  the  eleventh  day 
tli(!  weight  of  tho  bird  rather  fell  oil';  and  it  was  not  until 
tho  fourteenth  day,  when  Ik;  ato  sixty-eight  worms,  or  tliirty- 
f<mr  ponny weights,  that  ho  began  to  Incroaso.     On  this  day, 
tho  weight  of  the  l)ird  was  twenty-four  pennyweiglits :   ho 
thorelbro  ate  lbrty-r)no  per  cent  more  tlian  his  own  weight 
in  twelve  hours,  weighing  after  it  twenty-nint!  pennyweights, 
or  nftcoii  per  cent  loss  than  tho  food  ho  had  eaten  in^that 
time.     Tli(!  length  of  these  worms,  if  laid  end  to  end,  would 
bo  about  fourteen  feet,  or  ten  times  tho  length  of  the  intes- 
tines. 

To  meet  the  objection,  that  tho  earthworm  contains  Imt  a 
small  (|uantity  of  nutritious  matter,  on  tho  twenty-seventh 
tlay  he  was  fed  exclusively  on  clear  beef,  in  <iuantity  twenty- 
seven  pennyweights.  At  night,  the  bird  weighed  fifty-two 
l)ennyweights,  but  little  more  than  twice  the  amount  of  flesh 
consumed  during  the  day,  not  taking  into  account  the  water 
and  earth  swallowed.  This  presents  a  wonderful  contrast 
witli  the  amount  of  food  recjuired  by  tho  cold-l)looded  ver- 
tebrates, fishes,  and  reptiles,  many  of  which  can  live  for 
months  without  food,  and  also  with  that  re(piired  by 
mammalia.      Man,  at  this  rate,  would  eat  about  seventy 


.,klu 


f\»tt    I  ' 


:»    . ' 


100 


OrtNlTHOLOOY    AND   OOLOOY. 


pouiidH  of  flosli  a  day,  uiid  ddiik  live  or  six  gallons  of 
wutcu". 

Tim  (iU(«Mtioii  iinmcdiiitcly  prcsciitrt  itsulf,  Ifow  can  this 
iinniciis(>  iiinoiint  of  food,  recniirod  hy  tlu!  younjr  l,i,.,|s,  hi 
Hii|.pli(Ml  l.y  (ln>  piiivnts?    Siipposo  a  pair  of  old  rol.inH,  with 
tlic  iiHiial  iiinnlKM-  of  four  yoimii'  ones.    Thcso  wouM  mpiirc, 
uccording  to  tlu!  consiinii.tion  of  tlii.s  hird,  two  huiidivd  and' 
fifty  worms,  or  their  (!(|uividi.nt  in  insect  or  other  food,  daily. 
Suppose  the  parents  to  work  ten  honrs,  or  six  hundred  niin- 
utes,  to  proeure  this  supply:  this  would  Ite  a  worm  to  every 
two  and  tw()-(ifths  minutes;  or  eaeh  parent  must  procure  a 
worm  or  its  eipdvalent  in  less  than  live  minutes  during'  ten 
hours,  in  addition  to  the  food  reijuired  for  its  own  support. 
^  After  tlu-  (hirty-second  day,  the  hird  had  attained  its  full 
size,  and  was  intrusted  to  the  care  of  another  |)erson  during 
his  ahsence  of  eighteen  days.     At  the  end  of  that  jteriod, 
the  bird  was  strong  and  healthy,  with  no  increase  of  weight, 
though  its  feathers  had  grown  longer  and  smoother,  "its' 
food  had  been  weighed  daily,  and  averaged  lifteen  penny- 
weights  of  weight,  two  or  three  earthworms,  and  a  small 
(luantity  of  bread  each  day,  the  whole  being  equal  to  eigh- 
teen peiuiy weights  of  meat,  or  thirty-six  pennyweights  "of 
earthworms  ;  and  it  continued  up  to  the  time  of  tl^o  pres- 
entation of  the  re|>ort.     The  bird  having  continued  in  con- 
iiuement,  with  certainly  nmch  less  exercise  than  in  the  wild 
state,  to  eat  one-third  of  its  weight  in  clear  llesh  daily,  the 
Professor  concludes  that  the  food  it  consumed  when  young 
was  not  uuich  more  than  uuist  always  be  provided  by  the 
I)arents  of  wild  birds.     The  food  was  never  passed  undi- 
gested ;   the  excretions  were  made  u[)  of  gravel  and  dirt, 
and  a  small  (|iKuitity  of  semi-solid  urine. 

He  thought  that  eveiy  admirer  of  trees  may  derive  from 
these  facts  a  lesson,  showing  the  immense  jiower  of  birds 
to  destroy  the  insects  by  which  our  trees,  especially  our 
apj.le-trees,  elms,  and  lindens,  are  every  f<i\y  years  stripped 
of  their  foliage,  and  often  many  of  them  killed. 


.  ' 


ll    V  I  :i 


TIIK    ItODIN.  jgi 

"  TJio  food  «)f  flin  Rdliiii  "  H,,.    n    e 

Mil.  uoiiiri,    flic   Trofcssor  gnvs    « wliiln  .«:ti. 
('••iisiMfs  princioallv  of  un......         •        •  ^'      ^^"''*'  with  uh, 

Wilson  FlMjrj;,  an  acute  an.l  carofnl  ohs.rvorof  ll,c  habits 

<>I    onr    l)ll(  S,    rr  VOS    Trillin    ,vf   l."  •  Il-ll»U.S 

=1::;:;:,,  :r:;":'r, :'"" -'"'^^-^ 

-.»ko..  aotioa  ,.o,.e.i,.„  .,.o  ,„,,i,„™,  ..a,,,::;?  I^r*":;'"' 

11 


!fl 


:l    '  !1I 


It 


li\: 


162 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


"Early  in  May,"  he  says,  "my  son  caught  and  caged  three 
young  Robins,  and  I  encouraged  liira  in  the  act,  that  I  might  bo 
enabled  to  study  their  habits  of  feeding.  He  commenced  by  feed- 
ing them  with  angle-worms  and  soaked  bread,  giving  them  the  latter 
vevy  sparingly.  They  soon  died,  evidently  from  an  excess  of  the 
farinaceous  part  of  their  diet.  He  then  took  three  others  from 
different  nests,  and  fed  them  more  exclusively  on  worms,  and  some 
fruit.  Two  of  these  also  soon  died,  and  the  remaining  one  ap- 
peared ill  and  drooping.  I  suggested  that  the  bird  probably  needed 
insects  as  well  as  worms,  wliich  alone  were  not  sufficient  to  supply 
all  the  wants  of  the  system ;  though  he  had  access  to  cherries  and 
soaked  bread,  of  which  he  could  eat  whenever  he  wanted  them. 
After  this,  he  was  supplied  witli  all  sorts  of  grubs  and  insects  which 
my  son  was  able  to  capture.  Tlie  robin  devouied  these  indiscrimi- 
nately and  with  great  eagerness.  lie  was  never  known  to  refuse  one 
of  any  description.  All  kinds  of  beetles,  moths,  bugs,  grubs,  vine- 
worms,  chrysalids,  and  caterpillars,  which  were  presented  to  him, 
he  devoured.  After  this  improvement  of  his  diet,  the  bird  soon 
recovered  his  health ;  and  the  experiment  proved  conclusively  that 
this  variety  of  insect  food  was  necessary  to  the  life  of  the  bird,  at 
least  while  he  was  vounij. 

"  These  insects  were  not  put  into  his  mouth :  they  were  placed 
upon  the  floor  of  his  cage,  and  he  picked  them  up,  killing  them  in 
a  waif  that  shoived  that  he  hieio  instinctively  hoio  to  manage  them. 

"  He  was  particular  in  beating  the  vine-worm  considerably  before 
he  swallowed  it ;  but  he  never  refused  one,  or  neglected  to  eat  it. 
On  one  occasion,  havi  ig  swallowed  a  hard  beetle,  and  fin  ling  it 
incommodious,  he  threw  it  out  of  his  crop  by  a  voluntary  eflfbrt, 
beat  it  awhile  with  his  bill  against  the  floor,  and  then  swallowed  it 
again.  This  fact  also  proved  his  instinctive  knowledge  of  th>7  mode 
of  proceeding  in  such  emergencies. 

"  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  notice,  that  the  Baltimore  Oriole,  or 
Golden  Robin,  which  has  the  reputation  of  performing  more  ser- 
vice than  the  common  Robin,  may,  when  confined  in  a  cage,  be  fed 
almost  entirely  on  farinaceous  food,  without  injury  to  his  heiilth. 
This  fact  is  good  evidence  that  tlie  common  Robin  is  more  entirely 
insectivorous  than  the  other.  The  contrary  is  generally  believed. 
The  fondness  of  the  Robin  and  others  for  fruit  is  not  peculiar  to  his 


THE   BROWN  THRUSH. 


1G3 


spedes:  it  is  equally  remarkable  in  almost  all  other  insectivorous 
I  have  given  these  accounts,  as  I  remarked  before,  for  the 

a.anst  this  bird.    Instances  like  the  above  might  be  pre 
sented  to  almost  any  extent ;  but  my  limits  will  liot  pern 
a  further  notice  of  this  species.  ^    "''^ 


Sub-Family  UnimM.—3Iocki7ig  Birds. 


1  HARPORHYNCnUS,  Cabanis. 


(Type  Ilarpea 


the  .niddle  claw ;  hind  toe  longer  Z    Ir J  "f,  ^"^'['  ""'  '■'"^'""^  ""^  ^^^^  ^^ 

wings  short,  rounded,  the  fourth  or  Sj^  Ion  " st    t  7  '""  '"      """'""^  ''"'"" ' 
hair  that  Of  lo„.e.;  ta.I  longer  tha^iX^'^ ^ ll ^^fSr""^ 

HAEPOEHrNCHUS  EUFUS.  -  Coiam",. 
The  Brown  Thrush;  Brown  Thrasher. 

Turdn^rnM  Linnneug.    Syst.  Nat,  I.  (1766)  293. 
83.    And.  Orn.  I5,og,  H.  (1S34)  102;  V.  (1S39)  44^ 

Orpheus  rii/us,  Swainson.    F.  Bor.  Am    rr  tiMi\  iqt     xt 
328.  "or.  Am.,  H.  (1831)  187.    Nuttall,  Man.  I.  (1832) 

Description. 


Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  n.  (1810) 


i 

■w 

■[      * 

1 

1 

■      i      ■    '    ^ 

f 

1 

1 

■i: 

,  j 


!  .'  * 


164 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


streaks  of  dark-brown,  excepting  on  the  chin,  throat,  miiU'.le  of  the  beily,  and  under 
tail  coverts;  these  spots,  anteriorly,  are  reddish-brown  in  tlicir  terminal  portion;  the 
inner  surface  of  the  wnig  and  tlie  inner  edges  of  the  prinuuics  are  cinnamon ;  the  con- 
cealed portion  of  the  quills  otherwise  is  diirk-brown;  the  median  and  greater  wing 
coverts  become  blackish-brown  towards  the  end,  followed  by  white,  producing  two 
conspicuous  bands;  the  tail  feathers  are  all  rufous  the  external  ones  obscurely  tipped 
with  whitish;  the  shafts  of  the  same  color  with  the  vanes. 

Length,  eleven  and  fifteen  one-hundredtlis  inches;  wing,  four  and  fifteen  one- 
hundrcdths;  tail,  live  and  twenty  one-liundrcdths  inches;  tarsus,  one  and  thirty 
one-hundredths;  iris,  golden-yellow. 

Probably  iioiio  of  our  suimnor  visitors  arc  bettor  known, 
and  none  are  greater  favorites  tlian  tbis  bird.  Its  beautiful 
song  and  well-known  beneficial  habits  have  endeared  it  to 
the  farniL-r,  who  takes  it  under  his  protection,  as  ho  should 
all  the  Thrushes,  and  encourages  its  approach  to  the  garden 
and  orchard.  The  Brown  Tlu'ush  arrives  from  the  South 
about  the  middle  of  April  in  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island, 
and  the  10th  of  May  in  Maine  and  the  other  northern  dis- 
tricts. The  birds  seem  to  be  mated  before  their  arrival 
here,  as  they  arc  almost  always  observed  in  pairs  at  their 
iirst  appearance.  The  nest  is  built  al)out  the  middle  of 
May,  sooner  or  later,  according  to  latitude.  It  is  usually 
]>laced  in  a  bush  or  thicket  of  briers  or  vines,  sometimes  on 
the  ground  at  the  foot  of  a  clump  of  bushes.  It  is  com- 
posed first  of  a  layer  of  twigs,  then  loaves  and  strips  of 
cedar  and  grape-vine  bark,  and  the  whole  is  covered  with 
fibrous  roots :  the  nest  is  pretty  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined 
with  fine  roots  and  hairs.  The  eggs  are  from  three  to  five 
in  number.  Their  color  is  a  greenisli  or  dirty  white,  over 
which  are  thickly  sprinkled  minute  dots  of  rcddish-l)rown  : 
their  shape  is  ovate,  and  their  dimensions  vary  from  l.lt> 
liy  .80  inch  to  1.00  by  .70  inch.  A  great  nnmber  before  me 
cxliibit  these  variations,  which  proba))iy  are  the  greatest  of 
this  species,  as  the  eggs  arc  generally  nearly  of  a  size.  Four 
eggs  in  a  nest  collected  in  New  Hampshire  have  the  follow- 
ing measurements :  1.12  by  .78  inch,  1.12  by  .70  incli,  1.08 
by  .70  inch,  1.00  by  .70  inch.  But  one  brood  is  reared  in 
the  season  in  the  Northern  States. 


THE   BROWN   THRUSH. 


IGo 


The  song  of  this  bird  is  difficult  of  dcscrinfinn  •  u  • 
soj-t  of  confused  .ixtu.e  of  the  notes  of  dTfl^^^t  ,i  1^^^ 
rather  seems  to  be,  but  is  really  its  own  sono- •  n.  rl  ff       I 
;;;  ^nd..lsallsingnea.,alike%hei;^n;;:;U    ^^^^ 

e  Mockn,g-bn-d  u.  its  n.odley  of  notes  has  caused  it    o  b 
called  m  some  localities,  the  Brown  Mocker;  and  it  is  also 

smg  ag  m  the  n.ght  durmg  the  mating  season. 

1  he  description  of  Wilson's,  of  the  habits  of  this  bird   is 
piotty  comprehensive,  in  fact,  the  best  tnat  I  have  seen  an 
I  give  It  almost  entire.      He  says   _  ' 

or  gc„»,,,l,;  a.,„,.t  .1,;.!  ;  tX,, ,:'''''"  "'■  ^'*'',°'' Ap.-il, 

arrives  in  lV„„»,|v,„,i,..    u.      f,™ ,  ,!  ""?"  '"  '''»»<"».  !■« 

^iv.uiui,  and,  troni  the  tops  of  our  lipdo-p  ,.r,«-c 
sassafras,  apple,  or  cherry  trees    l,e  s.lnfo.  fl  /»e"ge-io«s, 

with  Ins  ci.annin.  son.    wluVl    i  V  I"  '''"'"'»  ""''■'"■"- 

;t:r :;:::;  :;^  ;;;::r 't:  "■  ^  r^'  r  '"^  ^°^"  ^- 

:^:::fr:::::r";:;'r':;;7"f-"i ■/'-«=-%:- 

°"" '»■'-  •'■«  '"-.^,„,„  i,:  ;:-:'.:L!::';::;;i?:;;f  ■;;;;; 

success,  Ins  streiiirtl,  l,<.i,„r  ...(...(er  ,,„1   i,;^  i  .  ,»'-"^'''">'  ^"'^'  ^^'th 

rr- -> ^ '■'-*;:', -r't-rr^rx 

t™l  ™n..,s,s  of  „-,„.,„,.  „,,iH,  l,„  «.,,„.l,o,  f.,„„  M,„    ™        ,,"; 
ulliu-s,  and  nm.iv  knda  „f  buries      l!,.,.,i..       ,,',  '•'■"«!- 

»,..„„.„,,„„  i,,,;.., w,„..ve;  'oaf:' ^::  '::''* '™°°' 

anir,.!.      Tr„  •  1   ,  1111.1,1,  wun  tnem,  are  sure  tn 


f     ,    U.  (r!K 


^^1 

1 

iii&  Id.  LJiH 

HHH 

^B 

i 

1 

■prs 

m 

1 

1 

m 

m\'M 

^F 

rx 

TV 

i'  1  t  Hi'.fi 

^^M 

I 

! 

1 

.ir^  ii     ^^M 

:> 

11 

I  M 

HI 

sH 


166 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


of  Indian  corn,  in  planting  time.  This  may  be  partly  true ;  but,  for 
every  grain  of  maize  he  pilfers,  I  am  persuaded  he  destroys  five 
hundred  insects,  particularly  a  large  dirty-colored  grub,  with  a 
black  head,  which  is  more  pernicious  to  the  corn,  and  other  grain 
and  vegetables,  than  nine-tenths  of  the  whole  feathered  race.  He 
is  an  active,  vigorous  bird,  flies  generally  low,  from  one  thicket  to 
another,  with  his  long,  broad  tail  spread  like  a  fan ;  is  often  seen 
about  brier  and  bramble  bushes,  along  fences  ;  and  has  a  single  note 
or  chuck,  when  you  ajiproach  his  nest.  In  Pennsylvania,  they  are 
numerous,  but  never  fly  in  flocks.  About  the  middle  of  September, 
or  as  soon  as  they  have  well  recovered  from  moulting,  in  which  they 
suflfer  severely,  they  disappear  for  the  season.  In  passing  tlirough 
the  southern  parts  of  Virginia,  and  south  as  far  as  Georgia,  in  the 
depth  of  winter,  I  found  them  lingering  in  sheltered  situations, 
particularly  on  the  border  of  swamps  and  rivers.  On  the  1st  of 
March,  they  were  in  full  song  round  the  commons  at  Savannah, 
as  if  straining  to  outstrip  the  Mocking-bird,  that  prince  of  feathered 
musicimis. 

"  Tiie  Thrasher  is  a  welcome  visitant  in  spring,  to  every  lover  of 
rural  scenery  and  rural  song.  In  the  months  of  April  and  jMay, 
when  our  woods,  hedge-rows,  orchards,  and  cherry-trees,  are  one 
profusion  of  blossoms  ;  when  every  object  around  conveys  the  sweet 
sensations  of  joy,  and  Heaven's  abundance  is,  as  it  were,  showeriu"' 
around  us,  —  the  grateful  heart  boats  in  unison  with  the  varying, 
elevated  strains  of  this  excellent  bird :  we  listen  to  its  notes  with 
a  kind  of  devotional  ecstasy,  as  a  morning  hymn  to  the  great  and 
most  adorable  Creator  of  all.  The  human  being  who,  amidst  such 
scenes,  and  in  such  seasons  of  rural  serenity  and  delight,  can  jjass 
them  with  cold  indifference,  and  even  contempt,  I  sincerely  pity ; 
for  abject  must  that  heart  be,  and  callous  those  feelings,  and  de- 
jiraved  that  taste,  which  neither  the  charms  of  nature,  nor  the 
melody  of  innocence,  nor  the  voice  of  gratitude  or  devotion,  can 
reach. 

"  Concerning  the  sagacity  and  reasoning  faculty  of  this  bird,  my 
venerable  friend,  Mr.  Bartram,  writes  me  as  follows :  '  I  remember 
to  have  reared  one  of  these  birds  from  the  nest,  whi(!h,  when  full 
grown,  became  very  tame  and  docile.  I  frecjuently  let  him  out  of 
his  cage,  to  give  him  a  taste  of  liberty.    iVfter  fluttering,  and  dusting 


THE  MOCKING-BIRD. 


16T 


himself  m  dry  sand  and  earth,  and  bathing,  washing,  and  dressing 
lumself,  I.e  would  proceed  to  hunt  insects,  such  as  beetles,  crickets, 
and  other  shelly  tribes ;  but,  being  very  fond  of  wasps,  after  catch- 
ing  them,  and  knocking  them  about  to  break  their  wings,  he  would 
ay  them  down,  then  examine  if  they  had  a  sting,  and,  witi,  his 
bill,  squeeze  the  abdomen  to  clear  it  of  the  reservoir  of  poison 
before  he  would  swallow  his  prey.  When  in  his  cage,  bein..  very 
fond  of  dry  crusts  of  bread,  if  upon  trial  the  corners  of  the  cnimbs 
were  too  hard  and  sharp  for  his  throat,  he  would  throw  them  up, 
carry  and  put  them  in  his  water-dish  to  soften,  then  take  them  out 
and  swallow  them.' " 

By  the  first  week  in  October,  the  Brown  Thrush  departs 
on  Its  soutliern  migration,  and  passes  the  winter  in  the 
West  Indies  and  Mexico. 

MIMUS,  BoiE. 

Mmus  BoiE,  Isis  (Oct,  1826)  972.     (Type  Tardus  tx.ly,,M(us.) 

n.ll  .Lorter  than   the   head,  decurved   from   the  base,   distinctlv  notched   at 

e  a.  le  claw,  and  shorter  than  the  hind  toe,  the  ch.v  of  which  is  half  the  total 
l.M^^th,  tad  vanable,  c.|„al  to  or  lonj^cr  than  the  wings,  moderatelv  graduated: 
um^s  rounded,  the  eximscd  portion  of  the  (irst  nearly  or  quite  half  that  of  the 
second,  wliich  is  considerably  shorter  than  the  third. 

MIMUS  POLTGLOTTUS.-^we. 

The  Mocking-bird  ' 

n8imt'''?fT'';;'''"'f    ^•"'-  """'•' ^-  <''"'^  ''3-    Wilson,  Am.  Om.,  II. 
(1810)  14.     And.  Orn.  li„«,  I.  (1831)  lOS;  V.  (1830)  438. 

Mimuit  p,ih/,//,iltiis,  lidio.     Isis  (Oct,  1820),  972. 

Orjjheus  jioly^loitus,  Swainson.    Zool.  Jour.,  III.  (1827)  167. 

Dksckii'tiox.  ' 

Third  to  sixth  ,,„i!ls  nearly  e,,ual,  second  shorter  than  seventh;  tail  considerably 
Kraduatcd,  ab.,ve  ashy-brown,  the  feathers  very  obsolet.dv  darker  centrally  and 
owards  the  h«ht  plumbeous  downy  basal  portion  (s..arccly  appreciable,  excepi  when 
the  leathers  are  Idted);  the  under  parts  are  white,  with  a  fai„t  brownish  tinge" 
ox.ept  on  the  ..|un,  r.nd  will,  a  sha,le  of  ash  ac'oss  the  b,-east;  tl,e,-e  is  a  pale  superl 
I'.lMry  stnpe,  but  the  lo,-es  are  .lusky;  the  wings  and  tail  a.'e  nearly  black,  except 
the  esser  w,„g  coverts,  ^y|,ieh  are  like  the  back,  tl,e  n,iddle  an,l  g.eater  tipped  wi  h 
>vh.te,  .orn,n,g  two  bands,  the  basal  po,-tion  of  the  p,-i,naries  white,  n.ost  extended 
on  the  ,nner  i.nn.anes;  the  outer  tail  feather  is  white,  the  second  is  mostly  white, 


jiiii-i^,^,,  iifiii:  i.i  jidJi 


";  ( 


ilfi 


mU.  I 


1-. .     f 

\:'\  .    ■  ■'   i 

lb 

1      i       '   : 

'IN   :      '  '■    ' 

168 


ORNITfIOLO(iY    AND   OOLOGY. 


except  on  the  outer  web  ami  towards  tin-  base,  tlio  third  wid,  a  white  spot  on  the 
end,  the  rest,  except  the  middle,  very  sligiitly  tipped  with  white;  tlie  hill  and  Ic-'s 
are  black.  " 

Leugtli,  nine  and  lilly  oiie-Iiundredths  inciies;  wing,  four  and  fifty  one-hun- 
dredths;  tail,  live  inches;  iris,  light-yellow. 

Tills  bird  is  so  exceedingly  rare  la  New  England,  that  it 
can  scarcely  be  regarded  otherwise  than  as  an  accidental 
visitor;  and  Alassacliusctts  is  certainly  its  northern  limit. 


fl  • 


Mr.  Allen,  before  referred  to,  says  that  it  has  been  known 
to  breed  in  Springfield  several  times  within  five  years,  and 
in  1800  two  pairs  nested  there.  In  June,  LSOO,  he  found 
a  nest  containing  three  freshly  laid  eggs,  incubation  nut 
having  l)een  begun:  the  locality  was  a  sandy  field,  growing 
up  to  pitch-pines,  in  one  of  which  the  nest  was  jjlaced"^ 
about  three  feet  from  the  ground;  the  pair  was  secured 
Avith  the  nest  and  eggs. 

As  I  have  had  no  opportunities  of  ol)serviiig  the  habits 
of  this  beautiful  songster,  I  will  give  the  very  interesting 
description  by  Wilson.     He  says,  — 

''The  precise  time  at  whicli  the  IMocking-hinl  begins  to  build 
his  nest  varies  according  to  tlie  latitude  in  wliicli  lie"re,sidos.  In 
the  lower  parts  of  Georgia,  he  commences  building  early  in  April, 
but  in  Pennsylvania  rarely  before  the  10th  of  May  ;  and  in  A'ew' 


1"^ 


li: 


I  '11 


THE  MOCKING-BIRD. 


169 


"ill,  fine  straws,  liy  „iel,    f  ,  T"      "  ^■""■-  "'"-■'■""""l 

TiK,  c"..,,  „■„  fou?     '!  "  '•«'"■'"■"«"  «'lo,-.  Ii„..,,  ,!,„  „.|,„l,.. 

i.»- 1  eve,.  „i, :;.,',,  ;  ;i:  -tr^  ""■■■■  '"•■"■-  ^  ■-"«■■■ 
.•..■i"«.c.i,  ti.»no,twin.„,,^  1';,  ;t '%;':'""''  !""■ ""'"  "'" 

t"  iTlro.,,      1!„,  i,i       ,    ,      ^     ^^"  ""'"■  -'I'l'""-'""'.  till  obli..,.,l 

i.a„,  ^,::"  u'  r;':^::;;  :%;;■;"  "t""'^  *"'  '"- 

»".sible   of   it,   ,N.„.,,-    „,"'.;      ,        '"    """'"=   '<»■"   '«="™»» 

<kfeate  of   ,.i,  y„;:,,     i     *\  "   """■"'    ""    ""   """I"'' 
,Hiiii„   luloiiblfs   l„s  exertions,  and,   unless    i.is 


>4I 


if 


■ 

H 

itiM 

H^H^H 

p 

WR 

Hi 

ii_«m 

R 

"  1 

^^^^H 

11 

4 

^1 

1 

'1       ., 

■H 

170 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


H\-{ 


<  • 


i  ■:  ^1  • 


antagonist  be  of  great  magnitude,  often  succeeds  in  destroying  him. 
AH  its  pretended  powers  of  fascination  avail  it  notliing  against 
the  vergeance  of  tiiis  noble  bird.  As  the  snake's  stronjrth  becins 
to  flag,  tlie  iMockiiig-bird  seizes  and  lifts  it  up  partly  from  the 
ground,  boating  it  witli  his  wings ;  and,  when  the  business  is  com- 
pleted, ho  returns  to  the  repository  of  his  young,  mounts  the 
sunnnit  of  the  bush,  and  pours  out  a  torrent  of  song  in  token  of 
victory. 

"  The  plumage  of  the  IVIooking-bird,  though  none  of  the  home- 
liest, has  notliing  gaudy  or  brilliant  in  it,  and,  had  he  nothing  else 
to  reoonnnond  him,  would  scarcely  entitle  him  to  notice ;  but  his 
figure  is  well  proportioned,  and  even  handsome.  The  ease,  ele- 
gance, and  rapidity  of  his  movements,  the  animation  of  his  eye, 
and  the  intelligence  ho  displays  in  listening  and  laying  up  lessons 
from  almost  every  species  of  the  feathered  creation  within  his 
hearing,  are  really  surprising,  and  mark  the  peculiarity  of  his 
genius.  To  these  qualities  we  may  add  that  of  a  voice  full,  strong, 
and  musical,  and  capable  of  almost  every  modulation,  from  the 
clear,  mellow  tones  of  the  Wood  Thrush,  to  the  savage  scream  of 
the  Bald  Eagle.  In  measure  and  accent,  he  faithfully  follows  his 
originals.  In  force  and  sweetness  of  expression,  lie  greatly  im- 
l)roves  upon  them.  In  his  native  groves,  mounted  on  the  top  of  a 
tall  bush  or  half-grown  tree,  in  the  dawn  of  dewy  morning,  while  the 
woods  are  already  vocal  with  a  nuiltitude  of  warblers,  his  admirable 
song  rises  pre-eminent  over  every  competitor.  The  ear  can  listen 
to  Ms  music  alone,  to  which  that  of  all  the  others  seems  a  more 
accompaniment.  xS'oither  is  this  strain  altogether  imitative.  His 
own  native  notes,  which  are  easily  distinguishable  by  such  as  are 
well  acquainted  with  those  of  our  various  song-bii-ds,  are  bold  and 
fidl,  and  varied  seemingly  beyond  all  limits.  They  consist  of  short 
expressions  of  two,  three,  or,  at  the  most,  five  or  six  syllaI)los, 
generally  interspersed  with  imitations,  and  all  of  them  uttered  witii 
groat  enq)liasis  and  rapidity,  and  contiiuu'd  with  undiniinislicd 
ardor  for  half  an  hour  or  an  hour  at  a  time.  His  expanded  winifs 
and  tail,  glistening  with  white,  and  the  buoyant  gayoty  of  his 
action,  arresting  the  eye,  as  his  song  most  irresistibly  does  the  ear, 
he  sweeps  round  with  enthusiastic  ecstasy;  he  mounts  and  de- 
scends as  his  song  swells  or  dies  away  ;  and,  as  my  friend  3Ir. 


•ij 


THE  MOCKING-niRD. 


171 


the  hen  hurries  about  wiM.  ),...    •  Juii  t  diicken,  — and 

runs  over  the  (Miiverinfrs  nf  fl,«  r-  ^  ""u  i.iKJiinJU.     llo 

I..I.1  become  altogetlK.,-  silent  ,v 7,  '"'■'°"'^' 

■•Tl.is  excessive  Ibn.lncss  f„r  variety,  however  i„  il,„       •  • 

of  some,  ii,jiM-c5  Lis  «„„..     His  ,.1,.> '•'°._°^"'  "'""'  "I' m 

TI,r„.I,  are  frc,,ne,„Iv  imcr    , , ,,  '°'"  °' "'"  "'""" 

«-' .-f  .1.0  i.i,,:"i    i  f  ;:::,;';-^  "'•™*-  -" 

...i..,.lo.l  will,  ,l,e  screaming  of  .swall  ,      or  ?  ^        ,'"'""""'  '"'" 
ai..i.lst  ti.e  simnic  „„.|„,lv  "f  ,I„.  ,  '  ""'''''"»  "'  I""-'. 

"y  >'"'  »-i"  .':..■. i:'..f  .^";;:;.::ir:;t:;^  -'■'■■■^»' 

.1.0  KilHeer,  B,„e  ,,av.  Martin,  lial.lL.r     ,    .'l  ^'tylC' 

''''  "•■'"  -" '-"'="  -"i<y.  .l.a.  >ve  look  rlrLrtri'I" 

1  Travels,  p.  32.    I„t,od. 


I 

I  <  i 


f.-.      iMlM 


I 


172 


oiinitiiolo(;y  and  oology. 


vPm 


1 1 


Hills,  and  discover,  with  aHtoiiislnnciit,  that  the  soK)  luMfornicr  in 
this  siiiifuhir  concert  is  the  achnirahle  bird  now  before  uh,  I)ni'in<» 
this  exhibition  of  his  powers,  he  spreads  his  winj^s,  expands  his  tail, 
iihd  tlirows  iiiinself  aronnd  the  ca<fe  in  ail  the  ecstasy  of  enthu- 
siasm, seeniinj,'  not  only  to  .sin<f,  but  to  dance,  keepin<f  time  lo  llu! 
measure  of  his  own  music.  Hoth  in  his  native  and  domesticated 
state,  during  the  solemn  slillne.ss  of  ni;j;lit,  as  soon  as  the  moon 
rises  in  silent  inajesty,  he  bef,niis  his  (ieli<,ditful  solo,  and  sere- 
nades us  lh(!  liv(!loiijr  ni^ht  with  a  full  display  of  his  vocal 
powers,  making  the  whole  neighborhood  ring  with  his  inimitable 
medley." 

A  number  of  og-gs  in  my  eolloelioii  average  about  .98  of 
an  inch  in  length  by  about  .70  incli  in  breadtli ;  their  loriu 
is  generally  ovate,  and  tlieir  color  a  pale  emerald-green, 
with  spots  of  forniginons  and  brown. 


■  f' 


ii% 


GALKOSCOl'TKS,  Cahanis. 

Galeoscopfes,  Cauanis,  Mus.  Iluiii.,  I.  (1S50)  82.  (Typo  Mincicnpii  CarnlU 
nennls.) 

15111  slidi'ter  thiiii  tliu  liciid,  ratlicr  hnmd  iit  I)iisc;  rictnl  lirisllcs  iiKulcriitcIv  di'vcl- 
opi'd,  rt'iichiii^;  to  tiiu  nostrils;  wiii';s  ii  iiltle  slioi'tcr  than  Ilic  tail,  roinidi-d;  sceond- 
arios  well  (Uvclopfd,  foiiitli  anil  tilth  (inilis  loiij,n'st,  third  and  sixth  littlo  shorter, 
first  and  ninth  ahoiit  ccpial,  ami  ahoiit  tho  length  of  seeondarles,  tlrst  (luill  inoro 
than  half  the  second,  about  half  the  third;  tail  graduated,  tail  feather  about  seventy 
one-hundredths  inch  shorter  than  the  middle;  tarsi  longer  than  lateral  inldille  tou 
ami  (law  by  about  an  additional  half  claw,  scutellat('  anteriorly,  more  or  less  dis- 
tinctly in  dlll'erent  specimens;    seutellie  about  seven. 

The  conspieuous  miked  inembramms  bonier  round  the  eye  of  some  thrushes, 
with  the  baru  sijaeu  behind  it,  not  upiaeeiable. 


GALEOSCOPTES  CAEOLINENSIS.  —  Cahmils. 

The  Cat-bird. 

Muscicapn  CnroUiHiifk,  Llniiietis.     Syst.  Xat.,  [.  (176C)  328. 
Or/jlitiis  C(tr(iliiieii:<i!i,  Awlu\nin.    Syn.  (is;(l)),  88. 
Mimits  C'linilliiciisls,  Civny.     (ienera  (]S4'l-4il). 

Turdiis  ftlivdjr,  Vieillot.    Ois.  Am.  iiv\<t.,  II.  (1807)  10.    And.  Orn.  Bio;?.,  II. 
(1831)  171;  V.  1839,440. 

Orj/lniis  fi-livox,  Swainson.    F.  IJor.  Am.,  II.  (1831)  192. 
Tun/us  liiidii.i,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  II.  (ISIO)  90. 


hh 


TIIK   CAT-IIIIID. 


Deschiption. 


178 


"■"-'■"-•-l.hs,  tail,  ,„,„•;  „.,...,  ..„.  a,„l  ,iv.  o„o-hu.uiru.Ul.;i„l  ' 

This  very  co.n.no,,  and  well-known  spoci„s   arrives   in 
.New  hnglan.l   al.„ut  tl.o  first  week  in   Mav,-in   Maine 
l-H.Mps  ahout  the  ir,n.  of  that  nK>nth.     It  is  .iistrihnte.l' 
"'"""  "-.(ly  throughout  th,>se  States,  au.1  its  hahits  ore  so 
well  known   that  a  description   here  is   hanlly  necessary. 
J)unn,o:  tlic  mating  season,  and  indeed  throu-h'  th.'  greater 
part  ol  the  sunm.er,  the  song  of  the  male  is  heard  in  the 
woods  pastures  and  gardens  at  early  morning,  and  some- 
tnn,.s  through  the  day  ;  and,  aUhough  nu,st  persons  deseriho 
U  ns   ..M.g  harsh  and  uneouth,  it  is  really  very  pleasing  and 
melod  ons.     It  ,s  a  sort  of  n.edley,  like  that  of  the  I^rown 
Tln-ush,  hut  not  near  so  loud:  the  bird  usually  perches  on 
a  low  tree,  where,  standing  nearly  erect,  his  wings  slh-htly 
<"xp<.nde,l,  an.l  his  tail  spread  he.ieath  him,  he  po.irs  forth 
MS  notes  sonietin.es  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time.     Li  addition 
to  this  song,  h.N  in  common  with  the  female,  has  a  plaintive 
note  almost  ("xactly  like  the  me^ving  of  a  cat:  ami  th,.  s„e- 
cihe  name  .>f  /.//.o.r,  given  it  l.y  some  authors,  is  much 
more  descriptive  and  appropriate  than  that  of  Curolincn^is 
which  IS  neither  descriptive  nor  proper. 

The  alarm-note  is  a  rattling  cry,  like  the  sound  of  quick 
1..-eakiiig  ot  several  strong  sth-ks:  it  is  perhaps  well  ex- 
pn'ssed  hy  the  syllables  trat-tat-M-fat,  uttered  very  quicklv 
I  'jHve  noticed  that  this  hird,  as  do  many  others,  prefers  the 
lUMghhorhood  o(  thickly  settled  districts,  even  a  home  in 
l.nr  nudst,  to  others  of  a  wihler  character ;  and,  when' 
nivelling  through  the  deep  forests,  I  have  invariably  fonnd, 
that,  when  these  birds  became  abundant,  a  settlement  was 
near. 

Soon  after  mating,  the  birds  build :  this  is  IVom  about  the 


"•SI 


1 


174 


ORNITFIOLOOY   AND   OOLOOY. 


'l  ["-  ? 

it^ 

1 

^1 

!  i 

20th  of  May  to  tho  firHt  wook  in  .Jiino.  Tlu;  nost  is  usually 
placed  ill  bushes  aud  shrulw,  seldom  more  than  four  or  five 
feet  from  tho  ground;  the  location  as  often  in  tho  deep 
woods  as  in  the  fields  or  pastures.  It  is  constructed  hrst 
of  a  liiyer  of  t\vi«;H  and  sticks,  on  which  is  built  the  body  of 
the  nest,  which  is  composed  of  strips  of  grape-vino  bark, 
fine  twigs,  leaves,  niul  straws  :  it  is  deeply  hollowed,  and 
lined  with  fibrous  roots  and  hairs,  and  sometimes  fine  grass. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  numl)er,  sometimes  five :  their 
color  is  a  bright,  deep  emerald-green,  and  their  form  gener- 
ally ovate.  A  great  number  of  specimens  before  mo  do  iu)t 
exhibit  great  variations  in  measurement  from  the  dimen- 
sions of  a  nest  complement  of  four  collected  in  Thornton, 
N.ir. ;  they  arc  as  follows :  .95  by  .07  inch ;  .0")  by  .GH 
inch ;  .93  by  .07  inch ;  .98  'by  .00  inch.  Two  broods  aro 
reared  in  tho  season,  seldom  three  in  this  latitude. 

About  the  middle  of  October,  this  species  moves  in  its 
Southern  migration. 


TUB   BLUE-BIHD. 


175 


FAM.r.v  SAXrCOMD.K-    Tuk  Uo,;k  Isuxmri-.H,. 

WiiiKH  very  !,.>.«  nn.l  m..,!,  ,„.in(.,l,  ron.l,i„K  Vvon.l  tlu-  mi,|,||,.  „f  ,|,,  sl.nrt 

.,  mro  or  eiuurKinat..,!  ,„il,  ami  o„o  an,|  a  half  .i s  ,.r  ,„.,r..  ..„•  l....^.!.  n,      .! 

..tt..r;  fho  .punouH  primary  v-ry  nhort.  ,l„.  h......„,1  ,,uili  |,„„,„  „,„„  „,.,  ^i,„,„     j„ 

!!:;;;e;:;;i:;:^  "■"  ""^^  """'"'"^  ^'^"^"^^  ^-"^  "^-'  '--"-^"^ "-  -«<"  ^-^  'i- 

SIALIA,  SwAiNsoN. 

M,  SwAiNso.v,  Zool.  .To„r.,  Hf.  (Sept,  1827)  178.    (.Sf.  }Vil,o„;i.) 
Ml  short,  N.oat,  l,ro«,l,.r  than  hi.^h  at  th.  has.,  thrn  ..,„„pr,.ss,.,|.  sliKhtlv  notohe.l 
«    t.pj  nc...  w   h  short  hristh.;  tarsi  „o,  ,.,„„.  than  th,.' ,„i,I.il    tot    Z  ,  'n 
.„!..  ahly  ..urv...!,  wn^s  muH.  h,n«,.r  than  th.,  tail,  the  first  prin.arv  spurious  ".ut 
oiie-tourth  thu  longest ;  tail  mo.loruto,  slightly  (i.rkiMl.  '  ' 

SIALIA   SIALIS.  — /?aiVi. 
The  Blue-bird;    Eed-broasted  Blue-bird. 

iJm^!^  "'"'■'•  ''""'""•     '■^■^'-  ''"'•'  '■  ^''''^   '''■    ^"-'i".  «.-t-  Nat.,  I. 

Sylvia  sMI>,]. aWmm.    Index  Orn.,  II.  (1700)  522.    AVilson  Am  Om    f  ^snR^  r.. 
Aud.Orn.ItioK,  II.  (18.14)84,  V.  (18,1,,)  452.  ""«»"■  A"'' ^rn.,  I.  (1808)  5.1. 

AiiqidU  sidlU,  Nutlall.     JIun.,  I.  (1832)  444. 

nKSClilPTtOX. 

Entir..  uppor  parts,  including  wings  and  tail,  continuous  and  uniform  n.„n-l,luo 
1.    H.ckso,  ad„ll..r„„tofthosame;  beneath  roddish-hrown,  the  abdomen,  a     |' 
,,on    and  under  ta,l  coverts  white;  bill  and  leet  black,  shalls  of  the  ,,uill 
aid  bit:     '.lack,  .en.alo  with  the  blue  lighter,  and  tinged  with  brown  on'  the  l,;:! 

Length,  six  and  seventy-five  one-hundredths  inches,  wing,  four  inches,  tail  two 
and  nniety  one-hundredths  inches.  "■>^"ts,  laii,  iwo 

rpiIIS  IxuuitifMl  l,ii-d  is  a  very  common  summer  inlmbitant 
J-  of  all  Now  KnglaiKl.  It  is  one  of  tho  earliest  in  its 
arrival  from  the  South,  often  making  its  appearance  by  the 
middle  of  March,  sometimes  even  earlier.  About  the  middle 
of  April,  immediately  after  mating,  the  birds  commence  pre- 
paring  their  nest:   this  is  made  in  a  deserted  woodpecker's 

II  have  adopted  the  arrangement  given  by  Professor  Baird  in  his  recent  review 
.n  this  famdy  and  the  succeeding,  as  far  as  Svlvicolid.k.  ' 


rftTliTsnfiT 


H)         X 


1 1  ;J 


176 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Iiolo,  m  a  martin's  box,  or  in  a  knot-holo  in  a  fonco-post. 

ll>o  materials  used  in  its  construction  arc  generally  soft 

grasses,  feathers,  and  wools :    those   are   thrown    to-ether 


without  any  ,ureat  care,  the  olyjcct  boin.t,^  to  get  comfort  and 
warmth  in  the  early  season  in  which  the  first  litter  of  etiu's 
is  laid.  The  e.u-gs  are  either  four  or  five  in  niimher:  tliev 
arc  of  a  liiiht-hluc  color,  with  a  vi'vy  faint  gTcenish  tint. 
Five  specimens,  tak(Mi  at  random  from  a  groat  number, 
exhibit  the  following  measurements:  .SO  by  .62  inch,  .So 
by  .(52  inch,  .84  by  Ml  inch,  .82  by  .()0  inch,  .80  by  .OO 
inch.  Tiiis  species  raises  two  broods,  usually  in  the  same 
nest,  in  the  season. 

Tiio  Blue-bird's  habits  arc  pretty  well  known  ;  and  its 
insectivorous  character,  and  social  and  happy  disj)osition, 
have  estal)lished  it  as  a  great  flivorite. 


THE   BLUE-BIRD. 


177 


Its  song  IS  a  soft  pleasing  warblo,  which  is  often  repeated 
and  .s  uttered  by  the  bird  both  when  flying  and  p  rc^' 

catchus.     It  remains  perching  on  a  post  or  twi-.  until  L 
proy  shows   itself,   when    it   suddenly  flies  at    I  fl 
|ts  v^ngs  rapidly,  sei.es  it,  and  retuiL  Xl^^^^^ 
.     It  often  descends  quickly,  and  seizes  a  gras  hoppe    tl  a 


12 


'3  ■ 


-7 


n-im 


Jii! 


•I   ■   ' 
'   iiir 


1 

'  J, 

1! 

! 
■J 

{          1 J 

178 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  SYLVIID^.     The  "Wood-inhabiters. 


a  ■  > 


•    Ih^i 


"  Bill  sleiidur,  broad,  and  depressed  at  the  base,  distinctly  notched  and  dccurved 
at  the  tij);  cuinicn  sliarp  ridged  at  base;  frontal  feathers  reaching  to  tiic  nostrils, 
wliieli  are  oval,  with  membrane  above,  and  cverhung  —  not  concealed  —  by  a  few 
bristles  or  by  a  feather;  rictal  bristles  extending  beyond* nostrils;  tarsi  booted  or 
scutellate;  basal  joint  of  middle  too  attached  its  whole  length  externally,  half-way 
internally;  primaries  ten;  spurious  primary  about  half  the  secoud,  which  is  shorter 
than  the  seventh;  lateral  toes  equal."  —  Uaikd. 

REGULUS,   CuviEK. 

Jletjnhis,  CuviER,  Lemons  d'Anat.  Comp.,  1799-lSOO  (Agassiz).  (Type  Motacilln 
re(/ti!iis,  Linnivus;  llegulus  cristatus,  Koch.) 

IJill  slender,  much  shorter  than  the  head,  depressed  at  base,  but  becoming  rapidly 
compressed,  moderately  notched  at  tip;  culincn  straight  to  near  the  tip,  then  gently 
curved;  commissure  straight;  gonvs  convex;  rictus  well  ])rovided  with  bristles; 
nostril  covered  by  a  single  bristly  feather  directed  forwards;  tarsi  elongated, 
exceeding  considerably  the  middle  toe,  and  without  scutdhe;  lateral  toes  about 
equal,  hind  toe  with  the  claw  lunger  than  the  middle  one,  and  about  half  the  toe; 
claws  all  much  curved;  first  primary  about  one-third  as  long  as  the  longest,  second 
equal  to  fitUi  or  sixth;  tail  shorter  than  the  wings,  moderately  forked,  tlie  feathers 
acuminate;  colors  olive-green  above,  whitish  beneath;  size  very  small. 

EEGULUS   CALENDULA.  —  Z»7,<. 
The  Euby-crowned  Wren. 

MotacUla  cnkmMa,  Linna;us.     Syst.  Xat.,  L  (176C)  337. 

Sytria  calemhiln.  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  83. 

Rojulus  calendula,  Nuttall.    Man.,  L  (1832)  415.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (1834)  546. 

Desckiition. 

Above  dark  greenish-olive,  passing  into  bright  olive-rrcen  on  the  rump  and 
outer  edges  of  the  wings  and  tail;  crown  with  a  large  concealed  patch  of  scarlet 
leathers,  which  are  white  at  the  base;  the  under  parts  are  grayish-white  tinged 
with  i)ale  olive-yellow,  cs|K'eially  behind;  a  ring  round  the  eye,  two  bands  on  the 
wing  coverts,  and  the  exterior  of  the  inner  terlials  white.  Young  without  the  reii 
on  the  crown.  The  female  dilfers  very  little  in  color.  It  is  (piitc  probable  that  the 
species  does  not  attain  the  red  patch  in  the  crown  until  the  second  year,  as  the 
spring  migrations  of  the  species  always  embrace  a  considerable  number  with 
the  head  perfectly  plain. 

Length,  four  and  til'ty  oiie-luiiidredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  thirty-three  one- 
hundredths;  tail,  one  and  eighty-live  one-hundredths. 


fl|i|  I 


THE  OOLDEK-CEESTED   WKES. 


179 


rpillh  d„n,„ut,vc  s|«cics  is  a  quite  common  spring  and 
X    antnnm  v.s.tor  in  Now  England,  an-iving' from  the 
Sonth  from  Apnl  t  e  Utk  to  tl,e  2Utl,  in  the  Uia'-ent  S  at 
They  are   generally  fi.st  ,een    in   evefgrcen   woe.1, ;    b, ; 

0  t  :„  ;  7r^ '""  "'"-"""^  '■"''^=-  ""<' «—  °f 

and  apple, -dai-mg  al.ont,  eliml.ing  on  the  small  hL 
a  d  p,,-,„g   n,  an  di.-eetion.,  in  .eareh   of  n.innte  fiyi?,  J 
nsects,  then-  eggs  and  lai™,  frequenting  the  tops  ol  tl°e 
toes  as  well  .as  the  lower  branehes.    Uy  ,|,e  12tl    of  Mav 
nCat';u'lT  "r  T'  '°  ■•-•"-■■  yonng,-,:'e^^fj 

0  «;«  T   ;     ;.?."'''  *°-,    *'™"  =""""  "'•'  !«'  of  October 
to  the  last  of  that  tnonth,  ti.ey  arc  again  with  „s,  and  are 

They  are  not  shy  in  their  habits,  and  will  permit  one  to 
>.|.i>roacl,  qn.te  near  then>,  I  have  noticed  that  they  renta  n 
m  one  elnster  of   twigs  nntil  it  is  eon,pletelv  clear       o 

The  Rnhy  Crown  winters  n,  the  more  southern  States  of 
l.«  imon  and  n>  Mexico.     On  clear,  f.ne  days  in  spr  ,  . 
1  .ve  heard  tins  bird  warble  a  beantifnl  song;  and  i    Ms 
also  a  peeuhar  guttural,  querulous  call-noterwhich  oftc 
precedes  this  song.     I  know  nothing  of  its  breeding  habits 


II 


"  "?. 


•>    'I 


EEGULUS   SATRAPA.-Z,V;,i!. 
The  Golden-crested  Wren. 

/    .     ii„'i,      pKMMi.i^  u  museum  name.    Autl.  Svn    nsso^    so      ii    i>-   > 
Ami'i-.,  I[.  (1841)  105.  •-\*"-  U«-JJ;,  b2.     JO.,  Birds 

i'l/lrln  rc;,>,h,s,  Wilson.     Am.  Oni.,  I.  (ISOS)  120 

Ae,„/.  .,.,.,  x,.„„,     ,,.,..,  ,  ^^,3^^^  ^^^_    ;^^_^^_  ^^^  ^^.  ^^^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^ 


;i; 


liiw,i^|] 


ill 


180 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


beneath  it,  white ;  exterior  of  the  crown  before  antl  laterally  black,  embracing  a 
central  patch  of  orangc-reil,  encircled  by  gamboge-yellow;  a  dusky  space  around 
the  eye;  wing  coverts  with  two  yellowish-white  bands,  the  posterior  covering,  a 
similar  band  on  the  quills,  succeeded  by  a  broad  dusky  one;  under  parts  dull 
whitish. 

The  black  of  the  head  immediately  succeeds  the  white  frontal  band  as  one  of 
about  tJie  same  width,  passing  behind  on  each  side.  Generally  the  white  line  over 
t!ic  eye  is  separated  from  the  wliito  foruliead  by  a  dusky  lore.  There  is  also  a 
dusky  space  beneath  the  whitish  under  the  eye.  The  yellow  of  the  crown 
generally  overlies  and  conceals  the  orange.  The  orange  is  wanting  in  the  fe- 
male. The  young  birds  always  appear  to  have  at  least  the  yellow  and  black  of  the 
cro^^l. 

Length,  under  four  inches;  wing,  two  and  twenty-flve  one-hundredths  inches; 
tail,  one  and  eighty  one-hundredths  inches. 


This  liandsome  and  active  species  is  also  a  common  bird, 
coming  to  us  from  the  North  the  last  of  September,  but, 
unlike  the  preceding,  braving  the  rigors  of  our  winter ; 
and  it  leaves  again  by  the  15th  of  April.  Numbers,  how- 
ever, winter  fartlier  south ;  and  it  is  in  spring  and  autumn 
that  the  species  is  most  abundant.  On  their  arrival  in 
autumn,  they  frequent  orchard  trees,  feeding  among  the 
leaves  of  the  apple-tx'ces,  which,  at  this  season,  are  infested 
with  insects.  Later,  and  in  winter,  they  resort  more  often 
to  the  evergreens,  —  such  as  the  pine,  spruce,  and  cedar, 
but  rove  wherever  they  can  find  food,  generally  in  company 
with  the  Chickadees,  and  occasionally  the  White-breasted 
Nuthatch,  Brown  Creeper,  and  Downy  "Woodpecker;  the 
whole  forming  a  lively,  busy  winter  party,  as  they  perambu- 
late the  country,  intent  on  gathering  tlieir  now  scanty  food. 
Their  call-note  at  this  season,  indeed  the  only  note  tliat  I 
have  heard  at  any  time,  is  a  faint  pipe  or  whistle,  sounded 
quickly  three  or  four  times.  I  have  never  heard  tliis  bird 
utter  the  querulous  note  assigned  to  it  by  Audubon  and 
Nuttall,  but  have  often  heard  the  Ruby  Crown  give  this 
strain.  In  spring,  having  similar  habits  and  diet  with  the 
Ruby  Crowns,  they  frequent  the  same  hunting-grounds,  and 
are  seen  hanging  to  the  extremities  of  twigs,  head  down- 
wards, and  sometimes  fluttering  in  the  air  in  front  of  them, 
seizing  small  flies,  "  and  often  exposing  the  golden  feathers 


THE  00LDES-C8ESTED  WnEW. 


181 


ness.  Tins  species  may  possibly  breed  in  Maine,  havinr, 
been  seen  ti.ere  in  summer;  bnt  I  do  not  remember  of  S 
ha™,  boon  fonnd  in  the  breeding  season  sonth  of  thS 


^^li 

•ill 

n 

li 

^^nt^ 

H| 

1 

ii 

r 

I 


fftl 


■Pi 


;l  j'  Ml  '"■ 


t' 


1 1 


i  ! 


i 


ifiS 


182 


ORNITIIOLO(iY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  PARIDyE, 

Bill  generally  short,  ennicnl,  not  iintdu'il  nor  dcinirvcil  at  tip;  ciilmcn  broad  and 
rounded,  not  sliiirp-rid;^i'd  at  base;  nostrils  rounded,  basal,  and  concealed  by  dense 
bristles  or  bristly  leathers;  loral  leathers  rough  and  bristly,  directed  forwards;  tarsi 
distinctly  scutellate;  basal  joints  of  anterior  toes  abbreviated,  that  of  middle  too 
united  about  equally  for  three-fourths  its  length  to  the  lateral,  in  Pnrince  forming  u 
kind  of  jialin  for  gras])iug;  outer  lateral  toe  decidedly  longer  than  the  inner;  prima- 
ries ten,  the  lirst  nuich  shorter  than  the  second;  tail  feathers  without  soil  t',>s. 

The  two  sub-families  nia\'  bo  thus  distinguished; - 

Pavinw.  —  IJody  eouipresscd ;  bill  shorter  than  th     i  ■■  igs  rounded,  equal 

to  or  shorter  than  the  rounded  tail,  second  quill  as  shori  .  .  lentli;  tarsus  longer 
than  the  middle  toe  and  claw,  wliich  are  about  equal  to  \av  hinder;  soles  of  toes 
widened  into  a  jialm;  phunage  rather  soft  and  lax. 

Sittimc.  —  Hody  dein'cssed ;  bill  about  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  head;  wings 
much  pointed,  mucli  longer  than  the  nearly  even  tail ;  tarsus  shorter  than  the  mid- 
dle toe  and  claw,  which  are  about  e(|ual  to  the  hinder;  plumage  more  compact. 

Sub-Family  Pakin.k. —  The  Titmice. 

PARUS,  LiNN.Ki's. 

Panis,  LiN'X.TnTS,  Syst.  Xat.,  173ij  (Agassiz).     (Type  P.  major.) 
Head  not  crested;    body  and   head  stout;    tail  model ately  huig,  and  slightly 
rounded;  bill  conical,  not  verj*  stout,  the  upper  and  under  outlines  very  gently  and 
slightly  convex;  tarsus  but  little  longer  than  middle  toe;  crown  and  throat  gener- 
ally black. 

PARUS  ATRICAPILLUS.  — /.JH7OTUS. 

The  Black-cap  Titmouse;   Chick-a-dee, 

Pants  atricnjnUus,  Linnanis.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17CG)  341.     Wilson,  Am.  Orn.,  I. 
(1808)  134.    Aud.  Orn.  liiog.,  IV.  (1838). 
Parus pnhtstris,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (1832)  79. 

Description. 

Second  quill  as  long  as  the  secondaries;  tail  very  slightly  rounded,  lateral 
feathers  about  ten  one-hundrcdths  sluirler  than  middle;  back  brownish-ashy;  top  of 
head  and  throat  black,  sides  of  head  between  them  white,  beneath  whilish;  brown- 
ish-white on  the  sides;  outer  tail  feathers,  sonic  of  prinuiries,  and  secondaries  con- 
spicuously margined  with  white. 

Length,  five  inches;  wing,  two  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches;  tail,  two  and 
fifty  one-hundrcdths  inches. 

THIS  well-known  little  Ijird  is  a  very  common  resident 
of  all  New  England  throughout  the  year.     It  is  one 
of  the  very  few  species  that  are  as  abundant  in  the  depths  of 


f 


I   I 


TIIR   IlLACK-CAP   TITMOUSE. 


183 


Hudson's  Kay  Titmouse,  upper  flg. 
lilack-cap  'I'liiaousc,  lower  Ug, 


^nnter  as  tl.rougli  tl.o  summer,  and  it  is  deservedly  ono 
of    the    greatest    favorites.      It  ^ 

commences  building  as  early  as 
the  seooiul  week  in  May.     The 
nest  is  j.laced  in  a  hole  exca- 
vated in  a  dead  tree  or  stump. 
This  hole  is,  like   that  of  the 
Woodjjocker,  gradually  n-idoncd 
at  the  bottom,  and  is  about  nine 
or   ten   inches   in    depth.     Tlio 
nest  is  constructed  of  soft  moss 
and  the  hairs  of  different  ani- 
mals.    One  beautiful  s})ecimen 
that   I   found   in   the    rortheni 
part  of  Maine  is  comj)osed  of 
the  hair  of  the  conunon  deer, 
moose,  and  hare,  a  kw  feathers 
of  the  RulTed  Grouse,  and  a  few  fragments  of  soft  mosses. 
Ihey  are  woven  mto  a  warn,  and  comfortable  tenement. 
1  he  eggs  are  from  six  to  ten  in  uumber,  usually  about 

V  ^7^  f  "  '''''''  ^""'""^^'^^  «°^-''  -i«i  a  faint 
m la.sh    nit,  and  are  spotted  thickly,  at  the  greater  end 

w.  h  markmgs  of  reddish-brown:  their  form  is  nearly  spher-' 
ical,  and  then-  dunensions  vary  from  .Oo  by  .52  inch  to  .GO 

Ihe  halnts  o  tins  l.ttle  bird  are  so  well  known,  and  have 
been  written  about  so  uuieh,  that  any  description  here  is 
ahnost  superfhions.  It  is  eminently  kindly  and  sociable  in 
Its  d,s,..s.t.on  ;  and,  although  almost  always  in  company 

i' w  ■  \T"^^^'  '"^^  ^''«  Golden-crested  and  Rnb^J^ 
crowned  A  reus.  Nuthatches,  .tc.,-it  is  never  seen  qua - 
rolhng  with  them,  but  fraternizes  with  them  in  the  „ost 
cordial  manner.  Often,  when  seated  in  the  woods,  have  1 
been  surrounded  by  them ;  and  their  curiosity  to  learn  the 
cause  of  my  presence  and  my  employment  was  so  great, 
that  they  would  often  perch  on  a  twig  within  two  feet  of  my 


t    ! 


'ir 


*       )! 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOGY. 


liead,  and  scrutinize  mo  with  their  shining  Wack  eyes  in  a 
manner  amusing  to  witness. 

Ostensibly,  tliey  were  searcliing  beneath  tlio  bark  for  their 
food ;  but  really  they  were  watching  me.  I  once  had  ono 
perch  on  my  boot,  and  look  in  my  face  with  a  perfectly  jjlain 
"  what-do-you-waut-horo"  expression  on  its  countenance. 
Always  at  short  intervals,  while  perched  in  trees,  and  some- 
times while  flying,  this  bird  utters  its  song,  which  consists 
of  several  notes,  that  may  be  described  by  the  syllables 
cheiveek-a-dee-dec-dee,  cheweek-a-dee-dee-dee,  emitted  in  a 
clear,  sweet  tone,  easily  recognized,  and  not  to  be  mistaken 
for  any  other  song.  The  flight  of  this  species  is  wavering, 
and  not  protracted;  the  bird  seldom  extending  it  further 
than  from  one  tree  to  another.  When  in  the  air  at  any 
considerable  height,  it  resembles  the  flight  of  the  Wood- 
peckers, being  luidiilating  and  partly  gliding. 

In  some  localities,  the  Titmouse  is  regarded  as  injurious, 
from  the  fact  that  it  is  often  seen  among  the  branches  and 
leaves  of  the  fruit-trees  and  shrubs,  ])ecking  off  and  destroy- 
ing the  buds.  It  does  not  do  this  to  the  biul  for  food,  but 
really  for  the  grub  contained  in  it.  If  these  buds  be  exam- 
ined after  the  Chick-a-dee  has  thrown  them  away,  the  bur- 
row of  a  grub  or  caterj)illur  will  ap[)ear  in  the  very  heart 
of  them.  The  bird  is  able  to  discover  the  presence  of  these 
vermin  much  more  readily  than  man  could;  ant;  'f  is  thus 
able  to  assail  them  at  a  period  of  tlieir  existence  wii  ''icy 
are  doing  the  most  harm.  IJut  it  is  not  the  insects  d 
their  larva)  alone  that  he  destroys.  Ilis  microscopic  e) 
enable  him  to  discover  their  eggs  deposited  on  and  in  the 
crevices  of  the  bark  and  in  the  buds,  and  in  an  instant  he 
can  destroy  the  whole  future  brood.  The  eggs  of  the  moth 
of  the  destructive  leaf-rolling  caterpillar,  those  of  the  canker- 
worm,  the  applc-trce  moth,  and  others  of  these  well-known 
plagues,  are  greedily  oaten  by  it ;  and  this  is  in  the  inclem- 
ent winter,  when  most  of  our  other  birds  have  abandoned 
us  for  a  more  genial  climate. 


TlIK   HUDSON'S  DAY  TITMOUSE.  IgJ 

C.1.S.I  nolicod ;  a„d  as  ho  ra.scs  a  largo  brood  of  yom.a  tho 
"n.lo  laying  six  or  oigH  eggs  at  a  litter,  l,o  is  vor^bu  v 
■■ougl,    1,0  „,,„lo  day  i„  capturing  vast  c„  autitios  7ca toZ 

.  lars  fl,„,,  and  gr„..s.    It  ha,  hoon  ealcuLcd  that  a  2glo 

d  od  on,:'       "T'7;°"  "'"  ""™««'"'"  '«-  "'■■"'  < 
h""d,  od  of  those  ,,c»ts  dady ;  a  lahor  which  eould  hardly  bo 

Zr         '  "  """'  "'""  ''  ""  «"™  '"'  ''"°'''  """to  the 

.n,"ii'rc°oT.'  f""  ";:■"  ™"'''  "°* "°  "^  "-™-f'" »» so 

s  nan  a  cost;  for,  sotting  aside  tho  value  of  his  time  and 

«lnch  the  Jitmouse  can  traverse  will,  perfect  ease     No 

that  constantly  beleaguer  ,t,  witliout  doing  some  dama.ro  to 
he  buds  and  young  leaves  by  his  rough  hLdling  ;  wl^^as 
I  c  Cluek.,a-doc  tr,ps  along  the  branches,  pee,,,  ,mdcr  03  . 

l«f,   swu.gs   hnnself   round   upon   his   perch,   spies   oU 

.::ayro:::;:i;t"™^^^""''''='^»"^--'>'^"-'-^ 

In  some  observations  made  on  the  habits  of  this  and 
o„,c  other  bn-ds  i„  Paris,  it  was  found  that  the  Titlm  e 
lestroys    at  the  lowest  con,puta,iou,  over  two  hun.rd 

thousand  eggs  alone  of  noxious  insects  in  the  course  of  a 

year  Ihat  one  small  bird  is  thus  able  to  accon,plisl  so 
m,cl,  good  „,  destroying  these  n,yria,l,  of  vern.i  >  is  a^ 

a|,>ca    o  the  good  sense  of  the  fanner,  for  tho  protectiol  of 

the  ir/wfe  class,  that  should  not  be  slighted. 

PAOra  HDDSOSICtJS.  _/■„■«„. 

The  Hudson's  Bay  Titmouse. 

.P..™, /&*„,„■„,,,,  F„„,„,    Phil,,,.  Tr«n.,,r,xri.(  1-721  38a   «r,     a    ,   „ 

I>KSC'/!IPri().V. 

Above  ycllowi.sh  (ilivaccous-browii  •  fun  nt-  i. , ,  i 


m 


,  I 


a ,,,»' 


t'!, 


Hi 


llH 


V 


LiM,;,  I 


i^<  i 


I    I 


M   ' 

mt 

It 

f^'^i  1    I 

?'    !  ■    -M 

j-  ■■ 

'  f  -^  ' 

I 


180 


OllNITIIOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Hides  mid  mini  rpifion.s  li.t;lit  lirdwnisli-tliostiitit;  no  wliitish  on  witiRs  or  tail;  lail 
iiciiiiy  even,  or  slinhtly  fiiiarKinati'  ami  niiiiulid;  lalrral  iVatlRTs  about  twenty  one- 
liunilri'dllis  inch  sliortcst. 

I.cn;,'lli,  iilimit  live  inilies;  win),',  two  and  forty  oiie-hundrcdths  inelics;  tail,  two 
and  Hixty-six  onc-liinidrt'dtliH  ini'lies. 

/M.  —  Xortln'aslfrn  portions  of  North  America  to  the  North  Atlantic  States. 

This  bird  occur.s  in  Now  Eii<>liintl  only  in  the  most 
northern  parts  of  Miiino,  Ntnv  llanipsliirc,  and  Vermont, 
wliere  it  is  sometimes  resident.  1  have  never  met  with  it 
alive,  and  will  bo  obliged  to  avail  myself  of  Audubon's 
description  of  its  habits,  nest,  tfco.  He  says,  in  describing 
the  nest : — 

"  It  was  placed  at  tlic  licitjht  of  not  more  than  three  feet  from 
the  ground,  in  tlie  liollow  of  a  decayed  low  sttnup,  scarcely  thicker 
than  !i  man's  leg  ;  the  wiiole  so  rotten  that  it  crumhled  to  pieces  on 
being  touched.  I  cautiously  removed  the  woody  enclosure,  and 
took  possession  of  the  nest,  which  I  obtained  in  perfect  order.  It 
was  shaped  like  a  purse,  eight  inches  in  depth,  two  in  diameter 
inside;  its  sides  about  half  an  inch  thick.  It  was  entirely  com- 
posed of  the  finest  fur  of  diHerent  quadrupeds,  but  principally  oi' 
the  great  northern  hare,  so  thickly  and  ingeniously  matted  through- 
out, that  it  looked  as  if  it  had  been  '  felted '  by  the  hand  of  man. 
It  was  quite  elastic  throughout,  and  rather  wider  at  the  bottom, 
probably  in  consequence  of  the  natural  growth  of  the  young." 

This  hardy  little  bird  resembles  in  its  manners  the  other 
species  of  its  interesting  and  beautiful  Irilio:  its  notes 
resemble  those  of  our  southern  Black-headed  Titmouse,  but 
are  much  weaker. 


Sub-F((mihj  Sitting:. —  Tlic  Nuthatches. 
SITTA,  LiNX.KUS. 

Silta,  LiNN.i!U9,  Syst.  Nat.  1735  (Apa^siz). 

I?ill  SJubulato,  acutely  pointed,  coni))rcssed,  about  as  lonR  as  the  licnd;  culmen 
and  commissure  nearly  straij^lit:  f;onys  convex  and  ascendint;;  nostrils  covered  by  a 
tuft  of  bristles  directed  forward;  tarsi  stout,  scufellate,  about  equal  to  the  middle 
toe,  much  shorter  than  the  hinder,  the  claw  of  which  is  half  the  total  length;  outer 


THK  \vihti:-iikllii:d  ni  ruATrFr. 


187 


!nh.r,.!  ..„•  mmh  lon^.r  ,l.a,.  inn.T,  an.l  nvavly  equal  to  the  n.i.I.Ilo;  tail  very  short 
l.r.m,l,  u.Hl  n.arly  even,  th«  C.athrrM  .solt  an.l  trunnUe;  wi.u.s  rearh  n7>  ,.  nZf    ,. 
0^.1  or  the  tail.  ,o„«  a..a  acute,  the  .i.t  „. ,,  ..e-U.i....  ^f  [i;  l:^  ^ 'IC;!;: 


SITTA  CAROLINENSIS. 


Gindin, 


The  Whito-boIIied  Nuthatch. 
»«f/V^,    Cnrnlh,cmh,  Latham,     m.i.   Or,,.,   I.  (17(,())  202.     WiUon    Am    Om     T 
(180«,  40.   Xutr.  Ma,..,  I.  ( ..:..)  081.  Aud.  On..',.!.,,.!  FI.  (IH.')  5  V.Tls^'473 

I'lvScltli'Tioy. 

Above  flshy-l,!,,,.;  top  „r  head  a„d  oeek  Mack,  uu.le.-  parts  and  sides  of  head   to 
n  shor   distance  above  the  eye,  white,  under  tail  coverts  and  tibial  feathers  b  o w 
concealed  prnnaiies  wliile,  bill  stout.  'Jiov^n, 

Le.iKth,  about  six  inches,  winj;.  about  three  and  thrc.w|,uir(ers  inches 

by  2'tc:;;.!^;!:!'"'"  """'■'"  ■'""'■""  '^  ^'"^  *'«"  ^""■■"'  "''""^'  ^^'-^ "'"-.  -naced 

Thus  species  is  a  not  uncommon  one  in  Now  Eii^liiiul 
where  it  is  ibiind  through  the  winter.     In  the  more  north- 
ern districts,  it  is  a  summer  resident ;  and  it  sometimes 
hrceds  as  far  south  as  Massacliusetts.     A  nost  was  lound  in 
Cambridge,  Mass.,  in  June,  1,SU5.     It  was  made  in  an  exca- 
vation in  a  dead  tree  (or  rather  stump),  whicli  was  carried 
to  tlie  dej.th  of  perliaps  eiglit  inches.     The  nest  was  com- 
posed of  soft  grasses,  hairs,  and  a  few  feathers:  tlH-se  were 
arranged  compactly  in  the  hottcmi  of  the  hole  to  the  depth 
of  perhaps  an  inch  and  a  half.     The  eggs  were  six  in  num- 
ber, four  of  them  are  now  before  mo:  they  are  ovoidal  in 
shi.pe,  of  a  beautiful  roseate-white  color,  and  covered  more 
or  less  thickly  with  fine  spots  an.l  dashes  of  light-reddish 
Tlieir  dimensions  are  .80  by  .61  inch,  .80  by  .00  inch,  .78 
by  .08  inch,  .75  by  .57  inch.     Another  specimen,  collected 
m  the  Adirondack  Jlountains,  is  marked  more  sparin-ly 
with  coarser  and  darker  spots:  its  dimensions  are  .7o"by 
.57  inch. 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the 
small  wood])eckcrs ;  and  they  are  equally  industrious  with 
those  birds  in  their  search  for  the  larvae  and  cao-s  of  insects 
which  they  obtain  by  boring  in  the  bark,  and  knockin<v  oif 


;.nr 


I  M 


8     tn  f  '  1  ittiff  ^c 


'  '  o'k'''- 


;,j«^ 


188 


OIINITIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOnV. 


fho  moHS  and  duiul  pieces  of  trees  witli  their  sharp,  powerful 
bill. 

In  traversing  the  limbs  of  trees,  thoy  roscrablo  in  their 
niovomonts  the  Downy  Woodpecker;  and  their  fli<j,ht  is  also 
similar  to  that  l)ird's.  The  note  is  a  short,  harsh  call,  simi- 
lar to  the  syllables  aha-elui-eha-ehd ^  uttered  (piickly,  and  with 
emphasis. 

SITTA   CANADENSIS.— /,mn««». 
Tho  Red-bellied  Nuthatob. 

Sitta  Canm/enaiS,  Linntcua.  Syst.  Nnt.,I.  (1708)  177.  Nutt.Man.,  I.  (1832)  663. 
And.  Orii.  ni.ij,'.,  H.  (If34)  24;  V.  474. 

iSi'«rt  I'lWa,  Wilson.    An..  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  40. 

Deschiption. 

Above  ashj--bliie;  top  of  head  block;  a  wliifc  line  above  and  a  black  one  through 
the  eye;  chin  wliitc;  rest  of  under  purts  lirowiiisli-riisty. 

Lcnfftii,  iilidut  t'lMir  and  a  ball'  iiiiiics;  wing,  two  and  two-thirds  inches. 
Hub.  —  North  Anicriia  to  tlie  Kocky  Mountainn,  probably  also  to  the  I'aciflc. 

Tlic  .same  remarks  as  to  distribution,  habits,  <tc.,  will 
apply  to  this  species  as  to  the  precediiif^.  It  is  quite  abun- 
dant as  a  summer  resident  in  tho  wilds  of  Maine;  and  its 
notes  are  almost  the  first  sound  heard  by  the  traveller  on 
awakening  in  the  early  morning.  I  have  sometimes  heard 
its  note  in  tho  night,  while  floating  in  my  canoe  on  tho 
bosom  of  some  tran(]uil  lake  or  l)etwecn  the  banks  of  a 
sombre  river ;  and  fre(iueiitly  they  seemed  to  be  high  up 
in  the  air,  as  if  ihe  bird  had  taken  llight.  Those  notes 
are  a  sort  of  drawling  repetition  of  the  syllable  chape,  like 
perhaps  the  following :    C'hcadpe,  eheadpc,  eheadpe. 

The  nest  is  built  in  a  hole  in  a  tree  or  stump,  usually 
excavated  by  the  birds  for  the  ])urpose:  it  is  of  the  same 
descrij)tion  as  that  of  tho  preceding,  as  arc  also  the  eggs 
with  the  excej)tion  of  .size;  the  present  being  considerably 
smaller,  averaging  .64  by  .53  inch. 

Audubon,  in  describing  the  nest  of  the  Red-bellied  Nut- 
hatch, says,  — 


THE   RKD-I.KLLIEU   NUTHATCH. 


189 


"I  found  it  hiiililiii.r  ih  nosf  ..f.,.r  v    ,  ■     ,. 

"- i-.-> -.;  Xr^rt,;;;;;-;"!,-:'-' 

only  ono  brood  in  tl.o  season."  ^  '        "'"'"""' 

AUl.ou.rh  1  rotuul  a  pair  on  Nantucket  in  Juno,  1800 
win  h  luul  young  without  doubt,  flu,  only  othor  <,..up  ,  nco 

were  ol  the  description  given  above.  ' 


'■m 


190 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  CERTHIIADiE.    The  Creepers. 

First  primary  very  short,  less  than  half  the  second;  outer  lateral  toe  much 
longest;  hind  toe  exceeding  both  the  middle  toe  and  the  tarsus,  which  is  scufellate 
anteriorly,  and  very  short;  bill  slender,  as  long  as,  or  longer  tliau,  tlie  head,  much 
compressed  and  greatly  decurved;  gonys  concave,  without  any  notcli;  entire  basal 
joint  of  the  middle  toes  united  to  the  lateral,  the  feathers  stiffened  at  the  tips;  tail 
long,  cuneate. 

CERTHIA,  LiNN.Ki's. 

Certhia,  Linn.eus,  Syst.  Nat.,  1735  (Gray).  (Type  C-  familiaris.) 
Bill  as  long  as  the  head,  slender,  much  compressed  and  decurved  from  the  base, 
without  notcli  or  rictal  bristles;  tarsi  distinctly  scutellate,  very  short,  not  longer  than 
tlie  outer  lateral  toes,  which  much  exceeds  the  inner,  reaching  nearly  as  far  as  the 
middle  toe;  liind  toe  longer  than  the  middle  one,  its  daw  more  than  half  tl  e  total 
length;  claws  all  very  long  and  acute;  tail  rather  longer  than  the  wings,  arched  or 
vaulted,  graduated  or  cuneate;  the  feathers  very  acute  at  the  tips,  the  shafts  stiff- 
ened; first  primary  rather  more  than  one-third  the  fourth  or  longest  one;  ;olor 
above  brown,  streaked  with  white,  beneath  white. 


CEETHIA  AMERICANA.  —  Bonaparte. 
The  American  Creeper. 

Certhia  Americana,  Bonaparte.    Consp.  List  (1838). 

Certhia  familiaris,  AVilsou.  Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  122.  Aud.  Cm  Biog.,  V. 
(1839)  158. 

Description. 

Bill  about  the  length  of  the  head;  above  dark -brown,  with  a  slightly  rufous 
shade,  each  feather  streaked  centrally,  but  not  abruptly,  with  whitish;  rump  rusty; 
beneath  almost  silky-white;  the  under  tail  coverts  with  a  faint  rusty  tinge;  a  white 
streak  over  the  eye;  the  ear  coverts  streaked  with  whitish;  tail  feathers  brown  cen- 
trally, the  edges  paler  yellowish-brown;  wings  with  a  transverse  bar  of  pale  reddish- 
white  across  both  webs. 

Length,  about  five  and  fifty  one-hundredtlis  inches;  wing,  two  and  sixty  one- 
huiidredths  inches;  tail,  two  and  ninety  one-hundredths  inches. 

Ilab.  —  North  America  generally. 

THIS  species  is  a  resident  of  the  tlirce  southern  New- 
p]nglaud  States  through  tlie  year :  in  the  other  States, 
it  is  not  a  coinmoix  summer  visitor.  It  arrives  from  the 
Soutli  about  the  midule  of  April,  and,  on  i)airing,  com- 
mences building  about  the  second  week  in  Ma}'.     Tlie  nest 


THE  AMERICAN   CBEEPEB. 


191 


.s  built  m  a  hollow  limb  of  a  troo,  in  a  deserted  nost  of  a 

woodpoeker  o,-  squirrel,  or  a  hole  i„  a  fence-post,     ula  ly 

he  locahty  ,s  chosen  in  the  deep  woods,  and  seldom  , ear 

Jwolhng,  „,  ,„  ,,  „,.„„,,.,^     ^,,^  ^^^^^^.^^^  '2 

constr„ct,on  are  soft  grasses,  feathers,  and  the  bark  of 
the  cedar  and  grape-vine.    The  eggs  are  usually  about  si.  in 
Hunber:  thcr  color  is  a  dull-gray;  and  they  are  n.arked 
Inckcst  near  the  great  end,  with  small  spots  of  reddish 
brown,  and  a  few  dabs  of  a  darker  color.     Mr.  Allen  snc„t 
"f  a  nest  be  ng  found  "in  a  large  elm  in  Court  Ct 
.Spnngfield  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  and  built  behind 
a  str,p  of  t  uck  bark  that  ..rojceted  in  such  a  wav  .,s  to  leave 
a  protected  cavity  behind  it."    Dinreusions  of  eggs  average 
about., 0  by  .50  inch.     But  one   brood    is  reaTed   i,      h 
season  in  x^few  England. 


i     1  • 


i    it.    ^ 


>"»■    mm 


192 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


11 


Family  TROGLODYTIDiE.     The  Wrkns. 

"Rictal  bristles  wanting;  the  loral  feathers  with  bristly  points;  the  frontal  feathers 
generally  not  reaching  to  nostrils;  nostrils  varied,  exposed  or  not  covered  by 
leatlicrs,  and  generally  overhung  by  a  scale-like  membrane;  bill  usually  witlimit 
notch;  wings  much  rounded,  about  equal  to  tail,  which  is  graduated;  priuniries  ten, 
the  first  generally  about  half  the  second;  basal  Joint  of  middle  toe  usually  united  to 
half  the  basal  joint  of  inner,  and  the  whole  of  that  of  the  outer,  or  more;  lateral 
toes  about  ccjual,  or  the  outer  a  little  the  longer;  tarsi  scutellate."  —  Baiuu. 

CISTOTnORUS,  CvnANis. 

CistoOamis,  Cabasis,  Mus.  Ilein.  (1850-51),  77.  (Type  Tror/lodytes  steWiris.) 
Bill  about  as  long  as  the  head  or  much  shorter,  much  compressed,  not  notched, 
gently  decurved  from  the  middle;  the  gonys  slightly  concave  or  straight;  toes 
reaching  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  tarsus  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  hind  toe  longer 
than  the  lateral,  shorter  than  the  middle,  lateral  toes  about  e(|ual,  hind  toe  longer 
than  or  equal  to  its  digit;  wings  rather  longer  than  the  tail,  all  the  feathers  of  which 
are  much  graduated,  the  lateral  only  two-thirds  the  middle;  the  feathers  narrow; 
back  black,  conspicuously  streaked  with  white. 


(    I 


CISTOTHORUS   PALUSTRIS.  —  Cnh'tms. 
The  Long-billed  Ma-bh  Wren. 

Certhia  pnlimtrin,  'Wilson.     A   i.  Orn.,  II.  (ISIO)  58. 

Tro<jhi(hjtc^  /niliiKtri.i,  Bonaparte.  Obs.  Wils.  (1824),  No.  G6.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog., 
I.  (18.31)500;  V.  (1830)467. 

T/iri/olliorus  jiuliislris,  Xuttall.     Man.,  T.  (1832)  439. 

Dks(  iiii-noN. 

Bill  about  as  long  as  head;  tail  and  wing  nearly  equal;  upper  parts  of  a  dull 
reddish-brown,  excejjt  on  the  crown,  iuterscapidar  region,  outer  surface  of  tertials, 
and  tail  feathers,  which  are  almost  black,  —  the  first  with  a  median  patch  like  the; 
ground-color;  the  second  with  short  streaks  of  white,  extending  round  on  the  sidi'S 
of  the  neck:  the  third  indented  with  brown;  the  fourth  barred  with  whitish,  de- 
creasing in  amouiit  from  the  outer  t'eather,  which  is  marked  from  the  base  to  the 
filth,  where  it  is  confined  totheti|)s;  the  two  middle  feathers  above  like  the  back, 
and  barred  throughout  with  dusky;  beneath  rather  iiure-white,  the  sides  and  under 
tail  coverts  of  a  lighter  shade  of  bmwn  than  the  back;  a  while  streak  over  the  e\c. 

Length,  five  and  fil'ty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  eight  one-hundredths 
inches;  tail,  two  inches. 

//'//(. —  Xortli  America  from  Atlantic  to  Pacific,  north  to  Greenland.  —  Rki.n. 

HAUDT. 


THE  LONG-BILLED   MARSH   WREN.  193 

rpiIIS  interesting  and  not  generally  well-known  little  bird 
J-  IS  a  stunmer  inhabitant  of  New  England.  Altholh 
not  uneommon  n.  Massachusetts  and  the  other  two  JonZt 
States  It  seldom  ventures  north  of  the  first  State  wl  e 
IS  confined  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  salt-wate  'zl^^,.  0  ' 
It  makes  Its  appearance  about  the  middle  of  May  and  tJ 
presence  is  soon  made  known  by  its  livelvr  oh.H  ' 
and  g^tes^e  dodgings  among^^  S^f^^ll^^^rS 
^^nchu  makes  its  home.     I  cannot  refrain  from  giv'rt^ 

Ts:;:;?  "^^"^"^^  ^^^°""*  °^  ^^«  ^-^^^s,  ^..,  bVwnsom 

M.7o^  !!"''  '^^-^^ -"-'^  -  Pennsylvania  about  the  middle  of 

v^ater  of  our  rivers,  are  sufficiently  hich  to  shelter  if  T  t 
places  it  almost  wholly  limit,  its  exourtlT       1  '"'^ 

rrou.  the  rive.  Its  J|  cousisiro?^  ^  l^  ^ ^^^^^  "^^ 
and  a  species  of  green  grasshopper  that  iuEa  te'eds  ^  TT' 
«otes,  it  would  be  mere  burle  ,  ue  to  r-.n  ',   '"7     ,  '  *°  '*' 

Standing  o„  the  reedy  bord,:^';r^^ 
niontli  of  June  you  l.e.r  n  In  ,  v    ^  I^elaware,  in  the 

bo.gy  g,.„„„d  when  ,r„d  „p„„.      T,,,:  ,  tk.Z'7t7!l 

-vel    .mertwined,  an,l  f»l,i„„,,,  i„t„  ,,„  f„,.,„  of  a  oLZm      A 
™.»l    bole  „  M,  two.tl,i,*  „p  ft,  e„,™„e,  „,e  uppTI  „  „t 

-.s  ever,  ki„.,  of  „oa.„„..    This  „e.  ,  go::l;i:;:.Z' 

111 


i  Ul 


lii.Jif        ].    ■ftji 


t  \h 


!'      1 


194 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


among  the  reeds,  above  tlie  reach  of  the  highest  tides,  and  is  tied 
so  fast  to  every  part  of  the  surrounding  reeds  as  to  bid  defiance  to 
the  winds  and  the  waves.  The  eggs  are  usually  six,  of  a  vlark-fawn 
color,  and  very  small.  The  young  leave  the  nest  about  the  20th  of 
June,  and  they  generally  have  a  second  brood  in  the  same  season." 

I  am  Tillable  to  add  any  thing  of  value  to  this  description. 
Several  nests  in  my  collection,  from  various  localities  in 
New  England  and  elsewhere,  agree  with  the  above  descrip- 
tion of  nest.  They  are  formed  of  reeds  and  grasses  twined 
strongly  together  in  a  bulky  fabric ;  and  the  entrance,  a 
small  round  hole,  is  on  one  side  (facing  the  south  always, 
I  believe).  The  cavity  is  deep,  and  lined  wntli  soft  grasses 
and  feathers.  The  eggs  arc  of  a  inahogany-color,  with  fine 
dots  covering  the  entire  surface.  These  dots  are  darker  than 
the  ground-color,  and  so  fine  as  to  be  hardly  visible.  A  great 
number  of  eggs  in  my  collection  vary  from  .60  by  .48  to  .56 
by  .42  inch  in  dimensions. 


CISTOTHOEUS    STELLARIS.  —  Cahanis. 
The  Short-billed  Marsh  Wren. 

Cistuthorus  slelliiris,  Crtlimiis.     Mas.  Ilcin.  (1851),  77.     Tyjie. 

Tmi/loi/ijfes  hnriraslris,  Xuttall.  Trans.  Aiiicr.  Acad.  Arts  ami  Sc,  New  Sen,  I. 
(1833)  98,  with  tij;iirc  ((iiiotctl  in  Manual,  tlioufjh  date  uf  volume  is  subsequent  to 
1832).     lb.,  Man.,  L  (1832)  436.     Aud.  Orn.  IWw^.,  11.  (1834)  427;  V.  (1839)  469. 

DlvSCIiU'TION. 

Hill  very  .short,  scarcely  half  the  leum'th  ot  the  head;  winff  and  tail  aliout  0(|ual; 
hinder  part  of  the  crown  and  the  scajiuiar  and  interscapular  rcj;ion  of  the  Ijack  and 
rump  almost  hiack,  streaked  with  white;  tail  dusky,  the  feathers  barred  tlm)Uf;iiout 
with  brown  (the  color  j^rayisli  on  the  under  surface);  beneath  white;  the  sides,  upper 
part  of  the  breast,  and  under  tail  coverts  reddisli-brown ;  ujiper  parts,  with  the  excep- 
tions mentioned,  reddish-brown. 

Len{;th,  four  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches;  winp,  one  and  seventy-five  onc- 
hundredths  inch;  tail,  one  and  seventy-five  oiie-huudredtlis  inch. 

JJdIj.  —  Eastern  United  States  to  the  Loup  fork  of  I'latte. 

Like  the  preceding  species,  this  bird  is  limited  to  the 
southern  districts  of  New  England  ;  Massachusetts  being  its 
northern  limit.  It  makes  its  fir.st  api)carance  about  the 
middle  of  May,  sometimes  a  little  earlier.     The  uest  is  built 


Ir 


f    ' 


TROGLODYTES.  jQ" 

ahont  the  last  week  in  May:  it  is  constructed  of  grasses  and 

sonictnnes  a  few  fciflim-a      ti  'v'"o  httus,  ana 

reared  i,i  Now  Eugi,,,,,!.        '^  '"''•    "'"  "'"^  '"'""'l  « 

The  habits  of  tl,i,  bird  arc  „„t  so  well  know,,  as  those  of 

violent  manner.     It  is  Inrdlv  ov,>,.  -1,     ^^oi^''"g  m  a 

of  the  silt  wofov  o   T  ^  '°°"  "'  ^^'«  neighborhood 

tne  salt  water,  and  seems  to  be  found  only  in  the  n,ond 

eonslanlly  o,„,,l„yed  i„  eaptnri,  ,,.     I  ,  s„,  ^  ;  '  '  „  f  ™!f 
l.ers„n  soarehes  for  the  "est  oec,,,,iod  by  the  f  In        I,,! 

TROGLODYTES,  Vn.:„.u,T. 

jr.oy.vV..sV..a,.or,(,is.Am.S..,,t,,IL(i807).,'>     rPvno  r     ;     , 
i lie  clmriU't.TS  of  this  s,.,.tioM  uill  I  ,  .'  ,.  ^    -^ I^*^  ^-  '^''''"•) 

of  tlu.  «e,...n.  o„  a  |.n...„i  ^      ;:"'i  ^  r!' :"""":""^-  -'-"-I  in  the  svnopsis 


\H 


.  .'"if 
I   if 


,.l 


«« 


fr«^P»«"**«i 


196 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND  OOLOGY. 


Ml 


TEOGLODYTES  ^DON.  —  HciVfoi. 

The  House  Wren. 

Trnyhdyles  av/(>«,  Vicillot.  Ois.  Am.  St-pt.,  II.  (1807)  52.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  I. 
(1831)427;  V.  (183il)  470. 

Syh-ia  iliwieKtira,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  129. 
Troylalytes  fulous,  NuttuU.    Mun.,  I.  ( 1832)  422. 

llKSCHirrioN. 

Tail  and  wings  about  equal;  bill  shorter  tlian  the  head;  above  reddish-brown, 
darker  towards  the  head,  brighter  on  the  rump;  the  feathers  everywhere,  except  on 
the  head  and  neck,  barred  with  dusky;  obscurely  so  on  the  back,  and  still  less 
on  the  rump;  all  tlie  tail  leathers  barred  from  the  base;  the  contrast  more  vivid  ou 
the  exterior  ones;  bencatli  pale  fulvous-white,  tinged  with  light-brownish  across  the 
breast;  the  posterior  jiarts  riither  dark-brown,  obscurely  banded;  under  tail  coverts 
whitish,  with  dusky  bars;  an  iiulistinct  line  over  the  eye,  eyelids,  and  loral  region, 
whitish;  checks  brown,  streaked  with  whitish. 

Length,  four  and  ninety  one-hundrcdths  inches;  wing,  two  and  eight  one-hun- 
dredths  inches;  tail,  two  inches. 

Ifab.  —  Eastern  United  States  to  the  Missouri,  or  to  the  high  central  plains. 

The  bill  of  this  species,  even  from  the  extreme  base,  is  .shorter  than  the  head. 
The  wing  is  very  nearly  equal  to  the  tail,  and  rciichcs  over  its  basal  tburtli.  The 
tail  is  moderately  graduated,  the  lateral  feather  about  .112  of  an  inch  shorter  than  tho 
middle.     The  outstretched  feet  reach  about  to  the  cud  of  the  tail. 

There  are  a  few  whitish  spots  on  the  wing  coverts. 

Tliis  interesting  and  well-known  little  bird  is  very  gen- 
erally distributed  throughout  New  England.  It  arrives  I'roni 
the  South  as  early  as  the  first  Avcek  in  ^May,  and  suon  ajjpears 

about  its  old  haunts  in  the  gar- 
den and  orchard.  The  famili- 
arity of  this  species  with  man 
is  well  known ;  and  comfortable 
quarters  are  provided  for  its 
reception,  oftentimes  in  the 
piazza  of  a  (Jwelling-house,  or 
in  the  casement  of  a  window. 
This  little  bird  is  rather  quar- 
relsome, and  often  drives  from 
its  home  the  Blue-bird  and  Martin,  occupying  the  prepared 
nost  for  its  own  domicile.  When  building  a  nest  of  its  own, 
it  selects  a  hole  in  a  tree,  or  post  in  a  fence,  aud  fills  the 
whole  cavity  with  sticks  aud  twigs :  this  mass  is  hollowed 


tm  1 1     i! 


THE   WINTER   WREN. 


197 


*"eo'*  ''■^^   llSliallV  SIX  111  nimi  ion 

i^ifei.i,  ciiui  1  iiavo  known  as  many  as  ten  bcin.r 

covoicd   »,H,   (,„„  ,|„ts  or  s|,n„kli„g  „f  a  daikm-  color 
I>uno,,.„„nH  varyfrom  .02  by  .50  to  .50  by  .48  i„c  it 

..oually    two  brood,  arc  roared  in  tbc  Lo„ ;     u,    t  " 

bene  ,c,al  ,11,0  ga,-do„  a,„l  o.cbard:  tl,oy  do»t,oy  i„„„o,„o 
.  "".1.0,.  01  .„s„ot»  a,.d  thoir  larva,,  a„d  arc,  i„  c„,,«,ca 
01    „c.,.oc,a    c    a.,i,„  a„d  plca.,a„t  di^o^i.i^..^,  .....at'iu:    ! 

lavor,  as  tbcy  a,-c  well  a|.|„-cciatc,l  a„d  |,rotcctcd. 
A3  w,tl,  „,a„y  other  bi,-d»,  t|,i«  ,^„^i       ^,^^       ^ 

luo„gl,  tbese  Stale.      Jt  „,ay  be  ,,„i,„  Ib.nnlant  1     .    ! 
town;  and  m  another,  pe,.l,a,«  ,ive  ,„Me.,  „„;  „„t  a,    i,,d 
..dnal  ,,  to  be  seen.    I„  Ca,nbridgc,  .A..,.,,.,  it' ,.,  „„„  J'Z 
most  ab„nda„t  of  bh-ds  ;  bnt,  i„  Newton  or  Do.ebe.t,.,   i    » 
c,.,n,,an,t,vely  ra,-e.     I  cannot  aceonnt  for  tbi,  h.-eguhlritr 
-Hiave  ,,ever  l,ea,-d  a  „U„sible  or  .atUfaCo,,.  rea,o,;  IW 
S.v™.     Sonie  s,.eeie.s  of  h,.sccts,  which  a,-o  lavo,itcs  with 
t  for  lood   n,ay  ,,os.sibly  be  fo„„d  Ics,  al„„„la„tly  i„  ,„„„ 
ocal,„e.    ban  ,„  olhe,.;  but  I  „,n  unable  to  .say 'f  tbi., 
he  case  sn,ee  I  do  not  know  of  any  ,,artic„lar  i,Lct  which 
lux  bn-d  lueiers.     xV,„„be,.s   that  1  l,ave  e..a,uined,  co  ,- 
lan,e,l  „,  tbe.r  st,„n,ichs  ,,,ide,-«  in  abundance ;  bnt  what 
K|.ce,«  they  we,e,  or  what  were  their  peculiar  localities   I 
a,u  Ignorant.  ' 

TEOGIODTTES  HrEMALIS.-lV„V4,(. 
The  Winter  WreiL 

»/««  (n.,,("'s'<»,  Wll»(,n.    .Am.  dm,  I.  (, MSI  139 

uio^:;i:'Z'":!:!'' '^'"'"'-  ^""^-  ''-'^  ^^^'^^-  (^«^^) ^>^-  A«a. om. 

^^^  rj^^A,,,,  ^W<^„,  Bonaparte.     Ohs.  Wils.  (1825),  No.  137.     Xu.t.  Man.,  I. 


<  5-«  i      r  ^i.  i^lm 


I      4 


^ii 


^        -    '             m      fa'-^ 

w 

198 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


r    ; 


li  n  I-  '  w  ':| 


n 


Description. 

Bill  very  straight,  slendor,  and  conical;  shorter  than  tho  head;  tail  considerably 
shorter  than  tho  wings,  which  reach  to  its  middle;  upper  parts  reddish-brown, 
becoming  brighter  to  the  rump  and  tail;  everywhere,  except  on  the  head  and  upper 
part  of  the  Imcl;,  with  transverse  burs  of  dusl<y  and  ol'  lighter;  scapulars  and  wing 
coverts  with  spots  of  white;  beneath  |)alo  recKlisli-brown,  barred  on  the  posterior 
half  of  till'  body  with  dusky  and  wliitish,  and  sjiotted  with  white  nion'  anteriorly; 
outer  web  of  i)rimaries  similarly  spotted  with  pale  brownish-white;  an  indistinct 
pule  line  over  the  eye. 

Length,  about  four  inches;  wnig,  one  and  sixty-six  one-huudredths  inch;  tail, 
one  and  twenty-six  one-hundredths  inch. 

JJab.  —  North  America  generally. 

Thi8  bird  is  quite  alnindaut  in  tho  three  northern  New- 
Enghind  States,  and,  as  a  winter  visitor,  is  not  iinconnnon 
in  tlie  others.  Wilson  gives  the  following  aeeount  of  its 
habits :  — 

"  This  little  stranger  visits  us  from  the  north  in  the  month  of 
October,  sometimes  remiiining  with  us  all  the  winter,  and  is  always 
observed,  early  in  spring,  on  his  rovite  back  to  h's  breeding-place. 
In  size,  color,  song,  and  manners,  he  a])i)r()aches  nearer  to  the 
European  Wren  (J/.  tro(/lo(/i/fcs)  than  any  other  species  we  have. 
During  his  residence  here,  he  fre(pients  the  projecting  banks  of 
creeks,  old  roots,  decayed  logs,  small  bushes,  and  rushes,  near 
watery  places :  he  even  approaches  the  farm-house,  rambles  about 
the  \vo(Hl-i)ile,  creei)ing  among  the  interstices  like  a  mouse.  With 
tail  erect,  which  is  his  constant  habit,  mounted  on  some  projecting 
point  or  pinuacle,  he  sings  with  great  animation.  Even  in  the 
yards,  gardens,  and  outhouses  of  the  city,  he  appears  familiar,  and 
quite  at  home.  In  short,  he  possesses  almost  all  the  habits  of  the 
European  species.  lie  is,  however,  migratory,  whidi  may  be 
owing  to  the  superior  coldness  of  our  continent.  Never  having 
met  with  the  nest  and  eggs,  I  am  unable  to  say  how  nearly  they 
approximate  to  those  of  the  former." 

I  know  nothing  of  the  breeding  habits,  nest,  or  eggs  of 
this  speeies.  It  has,  while  in  its  summer  homo,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  warbling  songs  that  I  ever  heard. 


THE  WABDLEBS. 


199 


Fa..„.y  SYLVJCOLID-E,    T,,,.  WAnB,.F.R8. 

r;2^i:,;::;=i:;;;-;;r" -rf'"- 
n...ci.  i...B,T  i„,i,.,.,  ,i„,„  „„  ,„ „  d;,  a  J ,:'°;" '",""'»•  ""'•»• 

c..r:;;:;  ;;::*:z^;r,;r;;!;:;;r2  :,^:r";  -"-^  ""•'='■'  - 

not  cons,,i,.,„.„..lv  lonKor  than  the  .ni,  '  "'"^  '" '>'"''l' cn.rvodi  hind  da^v 

.....  h. ...  ;.:,tXt ..- ^ ;-—;;;;  -  -^r  r =i;! 

hiaaer  scarcyUer  t.ia^s  r,!;;;::;;;;!::'^ '""'  ""^'  ^-^^^  '""^"  '^"-'>'  •"« 

ANTIIUS,  Beciisteix. 
,J*4  """""""■  ""■"••■  " "-•■  ■"■"""■■  '«  WBa.si.,.    (Tvpe  .«„,„„ 

.,.i:"e:;::::';::r  ;;"rt,::'  ""S'tt"';;  ^^  r """"  »•  "■• 
;'"•  'r'""  ""■■  ■■'■"■ .■  ..u:;;  s  ,*:  *.r  'i:;jr:jr 

' ,'"  " ?  ""»'s;-i«.  -'"« V,,,- 1„„„, , ,,„,„i,,v „„  r.       ,„.'  ' 


;,fi.a 
.(ft 


liiilJI  , 


*>)a 


II  fill  Hi 


200 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I 


'.?* 


ANTHUS  LUDOVICIANUS.  — Z,icA^ 

The  Tit-lark. 

Alaudn  Lmlnvidnnn,  Onu'lin.     Syst.  Nut.,  i.  (1788)  793. 

Aiithus  Lmlwkiiiniis,  Liclit.    Verz.  (182:1),  37,  No.  421.    Aud.  Syn.  (1839),  94. 
Ahiuda  ru/a,  Wilson.    Am.  Cm.,  V.  (1H12)  89. 

Aiithiis  npinokWi,  Aiiiliibon.  Orti.  Uiofj.,  I.  (1832)  408,  V.  (1839),  449.  Nutt. 
Man.,  I.  (1832)400. 

Anthm  jtipkiis,  Amiubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1832)  408,  V.  (1839)  440. 

])KSCHlrTI()N. 

(Female,  in  spring.)  Above  olive-brown,  eiuli  t'enther  sli^jlitiy  darker  fowiirds 
the  centra!  portion;  beneath  pale  didl-biitl',  or  ycllowisli-brown,  with  a  nwixillarv 
series  of  darli-brown  spot.s  and  strealis  across  tlie  breast  an<l  almi^r  sides;  ring 
ronnd  tlie  eye,  and  siipereiliary  stripes  yellowisli;  eenlral  tail  leathers  like  the  buck, 
others  dark  blaekisli-brown,  the  cxterind  one  white,  except  at  the  base  within,  a 
white  spot  at  the  end  of  the  second;  primaries  edged  with  whitish,  other  (piills  with 
pale-brownish. 

Length,  six  and  lifty  one-h'.uidredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  forty-fivo  one- 
hundredths  inches;  tail,  two  and  ninety-live  one-hundredths  inches. 

Hub — North  America  generally.  Greenland  (Heinhurdt).  Accidental  in  Eu- 
rope. 

Tins  bird  is  a  not  uncommon  full  and  spring  visitor  in 
New  England;  and,  in  the  southern  parts  of  those 
States,  in  mild  seasons,  it  remains  through  the  entire  winter. 
It  is  most  freiiuently  found  in  the  neigliborhood  of  the  sea- 
coast  or  its  large  marshes,  and  in  largo  tracts  of  level,  dry, 
weedy  j)astures  and  field.s. 

While  with  us,  it  flies  in  loose,  detached  flocks,  in  a  jerk- 
ing, irregular  sort  of  flight,  uttering  occasionally  its  feeble, 
lisping  qucet,  quccl.  It  seems  always  busily  employed, 
either  on  the  l)each,  in  gathering  the  small  shell-lish  and 
animalcules  thrown  up  by  the  tide,  or,  in  pastures  and 
sti^bble-fields,  in  gleaning  the  scihIs  of  weeds  and  grasses : 
it  also  feeds  ui)on  spiders  and  such  insects  as  it  is  al)le  to 
find  in  the  dead  grass  and  weeds. 

As  this  species  breeds  in  the  most  northern  parts  of  the 
continent,  I  am  unable  to  give  any  account  of  its  breeding 
habits ;  and,  having  no  egg  in  my  collection,  I  can  give 
no  description  of  it  here.  Nuttall  says  the  "  nest  is  built 
in  the  fissures  of  clilTs,  is  composed  of  dry  grass  and  a 


THH  BLACK   AND   WHITK   CREEPER.  Oqi 

little  moss,  and  lined  with  liuor  bind.-,  ^f  n     r 

f^y^  loni?  hairs      Tim  n  ,  T  ^''"^  ^""'"'^^  '^"^  « 


^«i-^^««.%  SvLyicoLm^.-_77.e  Wood.u.^rLfers. 
MNIOTILTA,  ViEiLujT. 

jtf>M,  V,,:„,,.oT,  Analyse,  1816  (ARassiz). 

(ifiiLTal  form  tylvicoline-  hill  rnti,.,..  i 
with  vo,.y  short  ri..JaI  t.  JI^  S,  ^f  r;"""-!^-'''  ''''"■•♦-  than  „,e  hca<,, 

.l.e  tail,  which  is  sli«htlv  rou-         "    '  ;   "  1    '/""f  •-'""^'"-"•''>-  '""K-  tha, 

claw  oo„sider«l.ly  shorter  than  ,    ,1  '  IT  '"'"'  """  "■■"''>•  "^  ''^"»?.  "'« 

This  ,..n.s  .,in;.rs  tro,n  oal^^i;::,,^;: ;;^'^  ^'-"^-'  -""  '"ack. 
.1.0  hinder  one,  I>y  „.„.,.  of  whieh'  he  sp ^^ .     J'     iS"""  "^  "-  "-.  -P-ia'ly 
trunks  of  trees,  like  the  true  Creepers       null!'-      "'"''"  "'"""'  ''"""  "'« 
American,  although  Nuttall  describe,  a  seeond  '^''"''  '"  """"'""^■'^  "«  -^"'th 

MNIOTILTA  VARIA.-F/«?fo<. 
The  Black  and  White  Creeper. 
Motacllln  vavh,  T.inn.Tns.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17G6)  333 
Minolilta  variu,  Vieillot.    Analyse  f  lo  (n      M    ,    .    •   ^. 
Syn.  (IK..),  71.    If. ,  Birds  Am!!  H  (mn'ios     '         "' '^"'  '^  ^^'^^^^  "«•    Aud. 
'V™  wna,  Bonaparte.     Svn.  (1S'>S)  ki      v  »  ir 
Cama  ,naa,au,,  Wilson.    An.!  oJn'ur    ml)  2^"  '  '  ^^'^^^  ^«^- 

DKscnri-Tiox. 
Bill  with  the  upper  ninndihle  consideral.lv  dernrv   i  ..     , 
color  of  the  male  l.laek,  the  feathers  1,  ^1    'e     "     ;;'      17''.  '''"'''''■'  f^^"«™' 
bl«ek,  with  a  n>edian  stripe  in  ,|,c  ennvn       ,     'k  I'  ''  ''''""-'  *"«  '-'"^  «"  ^-'ul 
illary  one  of  white;  „,id,il..  of  l,..|lv      vo     .       i  i  "  '"^'''^'^''^'^y  ""•■  a  n.a.x- 

e...es  of  tertials  and  inner  of  all  .."';i;:"Zhe  """,""  '""  ""'^^'  -'- 
webs  of  the  outer  two  tail  feathers    whi        1  '       '  "  ''""  ""  "'^'  ""ht 

edged  externally  with  white;   fen.aie  m,|'  ■','''  "'"     "'''''■■  ""'  ""■'■''>'  '''".k. 
streaked  with  black  on  the  sid..s  an.I  nnd";  taiVcIvertr""  """'^  "'"■"-'  ''''■^"'^■'^•'-- 

anaZ:;;';-:;;::;:::,:;;-,;:— 1^'«'''^-"-  -^-'-^^^^'"^  ^-hes;  taii,two 

M.*- Eastern  North  An.eriea  to  Missouri  River,  south  to  Guaten.la. 


This  Js  a  i-athor  ecnniou  .uininer  inhabitant  of  all  ^cw 
•uland.     It  arrives  from  the  South  before  the  20th  of 


England 


III 

"it  Iiil 


m; 


i  1  si'J 


;  ;l 

"S! 

i^m 

ilk: 

J:iJ 

I^H 

1 
,  j 

1  » 

I4 

hii 

LM 

^ 

Hi* 


202 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


April,  and  soniotimcs  is  scon  by  tlio  first  wook  in  that 
nKjntli.  In  its  lialtits,  it  rcHcinlilcs  1m)|1i  tlio  ('rocjxM'H  and 
Wurl^lor.s;  niovin<«;  about  (lu!  bodies  and  linii)s  of  tri'os  witli 
tlu)  ease  of  tlio  fornior,  and  glcaninj;  anionjrst  tlio  foliaj^c;  tlio 
insect  hosts  lilvo  tiio  hitter.  1  liavo  sonuitinios  soon  it  soizo 
a.  liyinjj^  insect  wliile  on  the  wing,  althongii  this  must  havo 
been  a  departure  I'roni  its  general  hal»its. 

'Die  song  of  the  male  during  Uu;  nuiting  season  is  a  sort 
of  lisping  rendition  of  the  syllabltjs  vlirvhrc,  trlu'rhce, 
fc/u'chee,  whechee,  uttered  at  first  loud,  and  gradually  weak- 
ening to  a  subdued  note,  like  ihM.  At  other  times,  it  has 
only  a  faint  chirp  or  chink,  which  is  uttered  l)y  both  sexes. 
About  the  10th  of  iMay,  after  the  birds  have  paired,  they 
commence  building  the  nest:  this,  Audubon  says,  in  Louis- 
iana "  is  usually  placed  in  some  small  hole  in  a  tree,  and 
is  composed  of  mosses  in  a  dry  stat(;,  and  lined  with  cottony 
substances."  In  New  England,  it  is  almost  always  built,  or 
rather  placed,  on  the  ground  ;  the  situation  is  chosen  usually 
beneath  an  overhanging  point  of  rcjck,  or  beneath  a  fallen 
Iruidc  of  a  tree:  it  is  made  of  mosses,  straw,  leaves,  and 
other  soft  materials,  and  is  lined  with  cotton  from  ferns, 
soft  grass,  or  hair.  The  eggs  are  laid  by  the  middle  of 
May.  They  are  usually  four  or  five  in  number;  their  color 
is  white,  with  a  slight  cream  tinge;  and  thoy  arc  spotted 
irregularly  with  fine  dots  and  confluent  blotches  of  reddish- 
brown,  thickest  near  the  largest  end  of  the  v.<^\:^.  Dimen- 
sions of  four  eggs  found  in  a  iii.'st  in  Reading,  Mass. :  .GtJ 
by  .54  inch,  .(>•)  by  .04  inch,  .(]">  by  ..54  inch,  .05  by  .54 
inch.  Two  broods  are  occasionally  reared  by  this  species  in 
southern  New  England. 

Probal>ly  the  greater  number  l)roed  in  more  northern 
lf)ealities ;  for  it  is  much  more  common  in  the  spring  and 
i'all  Ib.an  in  summer.  J>y  the  lOt'.'.  of  Sei)tenil)er,  tlu^y  move 
on  their  southern  migration;  and,  after  the  15th  or  20th  of 
that  month,  none  are  to  be  soon  in  Now  England. 


TUE  IJLUE   YELLOW-UACKKD   WMlULF.n. 
TARULA,  ll.).NAi-.\iiii.:. 


203 


""•':•■•  "■';'"  ""•  "1.  ••.....  i..  />../,.;;  ,s' us  ;::;■'■• '  r  ""r"  "'"•"  ^'''"''**  '^ 

wai.tiiiKi  l.i-ist|,..s  v,.rv  ^\u,rt-  il,..  ,      •  •         ''"'"'•■  "''^"'''f''  <..•  ..|itir..|v 

"-'^--— ^ ^K'.'^^!::-;";;,::;,:::;;;^ '"-  """"'^^ '-'  "--^i^ 

PAHULA  AMERICANA.-/?,,,,,,/,,,,.,.. 
The  Blue  Yellow-backed  Warbler 

"^:H<■|(M•Tf(,N. 

rwu;:;;.'^,:;:,;;;;;',;;:;.;;;,:':^ 

l>r.'ast.  '  '""•.'"  -..".lar,  w„h  k.>,  |,r„wi,  on  the 

'BBS-'fF'^--^^ '-'- 

'•'''""  No.th  A„.eru.«  ...  „K.  Mis>,„„.i.  HH„1.  ,0  Guatemala. 

«;■  •-  ab ,lii:lv:;',; :",:;;;  r''''[, :;;:::';  r-- 

an;  vcy  „„„•„„«  „,„,  ^j  >'  •"•'"•"  '»'?:  they 

.i-Mooa  cun»i»tH.  While  ,„„.s  „„,„,„,,  t„„y'o:L;t:;: 


;.{ 


\  ■  If' 

p  li'*' 

■    t 


',;| 


•   )• 


!    'IP 


204 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


h'li  '^B 


sioiially,  a  feeble  note  like  the  syllables  cheweech,  cheweech, 
cheweech,  uttered  at  first  low,  and  rapidly  increasing  in 
volume.  Wlien  passing  through  the  forests  of  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire,  I  have  seen  numbers  of  these  -birds,  par- 
ticularly in  the  neighborhood  of  swamps,  flying  from  the 
tops  of  the  huge  hemlocks,  and  seizing  the  small  lace- 
winged  flies  (^ephemeridcH)  that  are  abundant  in  those 
regions  in  May  and  June.  I  also  noticed  that  they  fed 
largely  upon  the  small  caterpillars  (^yeometridce)  ;  and  I  saw 
them  occasionally  descend  to  the  surface  of  a  lake  or  river, 
and  seize  small  spiders  that  were  struggling  in  tlie  water. 
The  habits  of  this  bird  have  caused  it  to  be  classed  in  many 
different  ways.  Linnaeus  and  others  placed  it  in  the  genus 
Pants,  Latham  and  many  others  called  it  Sylvia,  some 
have  named  it  Motacilla,  and  Stephens  named  it  Thryo- 
thorus.  It,  how  r,  belongs  properly  among  tlie  Warblers  ; 
and  the  position  given  it  as  above  seems  its  most  natural 
one.  About  the  first  of  June,  the  birds  commence  build- 
ing their  nest :  this  is  placed  in  a  fork  near  the  end  of  a 
branch  of  a  tree,  about  twenty  feet  from  the  gi'ound.  It  is 
usually  constructed  of  the  long,  gray  Spanish  moss  that 
is  so  plentiful  in  the  States  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and 
Vermont.  A  beautiful  specimen  in  my  collection,  found  in 
Maine  by  Jolni  Krider  of  Pliiladelphia,  wlio  kindly  pre- 
sented it  to  me,  is  of  this  description,  and  one  of  the  most 
curious  specimens  of  bird  architecture  :  the  long  hairs  of 
the  moss  are  woven  and  twined  together  in  a  large  mass,  on 
one  side  of  which  is  the  entrance  to  the  nest,  a  mere  hole 
left  in  the  moss  ;  the  lining  is  nothing  but  the  same  mate- 
rial, only  of  a  finer  quality.  There  is  another  nest  of  this 
description  in  the  collection  of  the  Museum  of  Compa^'ativc 
Zoology  in  Cambridge,  which  was  also  found  in  Maine.  Tlie 
eggs  are  usually  four  in  number,  and  they  are  laid  about 
the  first  week  in  June.  Their  color  is  white,  with  a  very 
slight  creamy  tint,  and  covered  more  or  less  thickly  with 
spots  and  confluent  blotches  of  brownish-red  and  obscure- 


THE   MARYLAND   YELLOW-THROAT.  205 

lilac  thickest  at  the  large  end.  Two  eggs  in  my  collection 
are  ot  the  follownig  measurements:  .62  by  .48  inch,  and  63 
by  .4b  inch. 

GEOTHLYPIS,  CAnANis. 

Hill  .vlviooline,  ratl.er  depressed,  and  distinctly  notched;   rietal  bristles  very 
short  or  want,ng;  wn.gs  short,  rounded,  scarcely  longer  than  the  tail;  th    first         I 
shorter  than  the  iourth;  tail  long,  much  rounded  or  graduated-    legs     ton      T 
l!;:?£r"'^  "-^'  «"-«-"  "'^-e,  helly  yellot;  tail  t.^ .I^r^u^ I 

GEOTHLYPIS  TEICHAS.  -  Cabanis. 
The  Maryland  Yellow-throat. 
Tardus  trichas,  Linnajus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1766)  293. 
S>jlvia  trichas  AuAnhon.     o'rn.  IJiog.,  L  (1832)  120;  V.  (1838)  463. 
Ocol/ilypu  inclins,  Cixhanis.     Mus.  llein.  (1850),  16. 
Sylna  MarilnmUca,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  88 
Trichas  roscoe,  Nuttall.    JIan.,  L  (2d  ed.,  1840)  457. ' 

DliSCKIITION. 

chiS.n;i;::;sr;;:x^2r;t.r3r::s.^^ 

..i«..t-yello.;    Mly  dull  .hitish-hutr;    ^i-es  o^^l^^  ^  !  S  ^^^  ^S 
ohye- brown;  nnder  coverts  glossed  with  the  same;   a  band  of  black  on    h     S 
u  d    abou    twenty  one-hundredths  of  an  inch  wide  in  the  middle),  p^slg  back 
;';t°;"ver  the  cheek  and  ear  coverts,  and  extending  a  little  above  the  eve- 
...s  band  bordered  behind  by  a  suffusion  of  hoary-ash,  fonn^ng  a  distinct  linabovj 
the  eye,  and  wdening  behind  the  ear  coverts  into  a  larger  natch    with  7.  ,. 
.inge^    In  winter  d.ss,  and  in  the  t.male,  without  the  ^S^J't^  ^   ^  ^.^^ 
tugged  w;,h  brown,  the  yellow  of  the  throat  less  extended,  the  evelid;     hi '         ,  d 
an  nidistnict  superciliary  line  vellowish.  ^wi'ti^n,  and 

Length  of  n.ale,  five  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches,  wing,  two  and  forty  one 
hundredths  mches ;  tail,  two  and  twenty  one-hundredths  inches.  ^ 

This  bird  is  a  common  inhabitant  of  all  the  New-Eno-land 
States.  It  arrives  from  the  Soutli  ahout  the  second  week  in 
May,  sometimes  earlier,  and  soon  commences  buildino- 
The  nest  is  usually  placed  on  the  ground,  although  often  hi 
th.ckots  of  briers  and  bushes.  It  is  constructed  of  leaves 
and  grasses,  and  is  lined  with  fine  grasses  and  hairs.  It  is 
often  built  over  at  the  top,  with  the  ontrance  through  a  hole 
m  the  side.     The  whole  makes  a  bulky  affair,  almost  imper- 


IS  i  iff  ati''j; 


mvm 


206 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


■ 

f 

1 

1.  ■ 

pi 

■  u 

iiii 


vious  to  water.^     The  eggs  are  laid  about  tlie  last  week  in 
May  or  first  week  in  June.     They  are  variable  in  size  and 
markings,  but  are   usually  five  in  number.     To  illustrate 
the  difference  in  size  and  markings,  I  will  describe  five  eggs 
found  in  a  nest  in  Milton,  Mass.:  No.  1  is  creamy-white  in 
color,  with  numerous  s})ots  of  dark-brown  and  obscure  spots 
of  lilac  ;  these  markings  are  thinly  scattered  over  the  eggs, 
but  are  quite  thick  at  the  larger  end  :  dimensions,  .70  by 
.52  inch.     No.  2  has  the  same  ground-color,  but  the  mark- 
ings  consist   of    numerous   spots   and   confluent   blotches 
of  light-brown  and  lilac  at  the  large  end  ol"  the  egg  :  dimen- 
sions,  .70  by  .oG  inch.     No.   3   is  piue-whitc,  with  thinly 
scattered  spots  of   brown  and   black  running  like  a  ring 
around  the  larger  end  of  the  egg  ;  dimensions,  .7'1  by  .50 
inch.     No.  4  is  of  a  pure-white  color,  with  thinly  scattered 
spots  of  light-brown  around  the  larger  end  :   dimensions, 
.66  by  .52  inch.     No.  5  of  the  same  color,  size,  and  mark- 
ings as  No.  4.     Other  eggs  of  this  species  in  my  collection 
exhibit  other  markings  from  spots  and  blotches  of  lilac  and 
brown  at  the  larger  end  to  thinly  scattered  dots  of  reddish 
over  the  entire  surface  ;  and  one  specimen  has  numerous 
irregular  lines  in  a  circle  around  the  larger  end  of  the  egg. 
This  species  rears  two  broods  in  the  season  in  southern 
New  England.      I  have  found  nests  often  as  late  as  the 
middle  of  July.     Tlie  hal)its  of  the  jNfaryland  Yellow-throat 
are  well  known.     He  is  first  noticed  in  the  swampy  thickets, 
darting  in  and  out  through  the  tangled  shrubbery.     8oon 
he  makes  his  appearance  in  the  flower-garden  and  orchard, 
wliere  he  may  be  seen  at  almost  all  times  through  the  breed- 
ing season,  busily  engaged  searching  for  his  insect  food  ; 
occasionally  pausing  to  carol  his  j)retty  song,  whe-tit-tc-tee, 
tvhe-t'U-te-tec,  then  darting  away  for  a  discovered  insect,  then 
caressing  his  mate,  or  flying  to  his  nest  with  food  for  their 
young. 

1  A  nest  s(Mit  me  from  Delaware  is  constructed  of  grasses,  which  are  woven  into 
a  loose  fabric,  quite  dili'erent  from  northern  specimens. 


THE  MOURNING  WARBLER.  £07 

In  the  woods,  this  species  is  more  often  found  in  low 
t  uckets  „i  or  near  wet,  swampy  localities,  and  is  very  sel- 
dom  seen  m  high,  dry,  heavily  wooded  conntries.  It  seems 
0  prefer  the  neighborhood  of  human  habitations  for  its 
home  and  Its  gciial  disposition  and  beneficial  habits  have 
established  it  as  a  great  favorite  with  the  farmers 

As  soon  as  the  last  brood  of  young  leaves  the  nest,  the 
old  buds  become  silent ;  and,  by  the  middle  of  September, 
the  whole  family  leave  for  the  South.  ' 

GEOTHLYPIS  PHILADELPHIA. - 2?a»</. 
The  Mourning  Warbler. 

Syfda  PMla,Mphla,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  II    m\OS  ini      a    ,    n       r.. 
(183U)  78.    Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1S32)  404.  ^  ^"'^^  ^"'-  "'"«-  ^'- 

Description. 

t'rst  „rin.a:y,  with  the  outer  half  of  the  outer. U^-hIST'  "f  "■"•  f^"' 
Sray  of  the  erown  glosse.l  with  olive;  the  ehi„  a    J   1  ^o      ,"  "n"'''  T"'  *"'' 

with  fulvons;  a  ,l,.ll  whitish  rinj,  rou,,,!  the  eve.  '  '"  ■'  """  ''"^'"^ 

J.enfTth,  five  and  titty  one-h..n,lre,lth.s  inehe..;  wins  two  and  forfv  f!v« 
.h-ed.hs  i„che.s,  tail,  two  and  twcnty-.ive  one-hyndri!  i^ei.:;!       '''''''  ""■'""■ 

This  bird  is  very  rarely  found  in  Now  England.     It  has 
been  taken  in  all  these  States,  but  in  such  small  numbers 
that  It  can  hardly  be  called  one  of  our  birds.     Mr  Allen 
shot  two  ;  I  have  taken  but  one  ;  and  Mr.  Verrill  gives  one 
or  t.-o  instances  of  its  being  taken  in  Mai.ie.    The  specimen 
tha   I  capuu-ed  had  all  the  motions  and  habits  of  the  Mary- 
land lellow-tiu-oat;  and  I  neglected  to  shoot  it  for  some 
tune,  supposM.g  it  to  be  the  female  of  that  bird.     Its  note 
was  a  simple  chirp,  with  a  warbling  termination  like  the 
sylhibk^  .7«;yx7.m..,  chlrpchreee,  uttered  in  a  soft,  pensive 
tone.    01  Its  breeding  habits,  nest,  and  eggs,  I  am  ignorant. 


• 


i,f 


i^i' 


llll 


m      ...   'i 


ilHi"' 


I  i' 


i'  <. 


F  •)' 


l< 


"!■ 


208  ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGT. 


OPORORNIS,  Baird. 

Bill  sylvicoline,  rather  compressed ;  distinctly  notched  at  tip;  rictal  bristles  very 
much  reduced ;  wings  elongated,  pointed,  much  longer  than  the  tail ;  the  first  quill 
nearly  or  quite  the  longest;  tail  very  slightly  rounded;  tail  featliers  acuminate, 
pointed;  the  under  coverts  reaching  to  ^vithin  less  than  half  an  inch  of  the.r  tip; 
tarsi  elongated,  longer  than  the  head;  claws  largo,  the  hinder  one  as  long  as  its  digit, 
and  longer  than  tlie  lateral  toes;  above  olive-green,  beneath  yellow;  tail  and  wings 
inmiaculate ;  legs  yellow. 

OPORORNIS  AGILIS.— Baird. 

The  Connecticut,  Warbler. 

Sylvia  agilis,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  V.  (1812)  64.    Aud.  Cm.  Biog.,  II.  (1834)  227. 

Sylncola  anilis,  Orn.  Biog.,  II.  (1841)  71. 

Trichaa  ayills,  Nuttall.     Man.,  I.  (2d  ed.,  1840)  403. 

Tnchas  tephrocotis,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (2d  ed.,  1840)  462. 

Dkscription. 

Upper  parts  and  sides  of  the  body  uniform  olive-green,  very  slightly  tinged  with 
ash  on  the  crown;  sides  of  the  head  ash,  tinged  with  dusky  beneath  the  eye  (entire 
head  sometimes  ash);  chin  and  tliroat  grayish-ash,  gradually  becoming  darker  to 
the  upper  part  ot  the  breast,  where  it  becomes  tinged  with  dark-ash;  sides  of  the 
neck,  breast,  and  body  olive,  like  the  back;  rest  of  under  parts  light-yellow;  a 
broad,  continuuus  white  ring  round  the  eye;  wings  and  tail  feathers  olive  (especially 
the  latter),  without  any  trace  of  bars  or  spots;  bill  brown  above;  feet  yellow. 

Length,  six  inches;  wing,  three;  tail,  two  and  twenty-five  one-huii'dredths. 

This  is  another  very  rare  bird  in  Ne^y  England,  and  I 
have  never  met  with  a  specimen  tliat  was  taken  north  of 
Massachusetts.  In  West  Roxbury,  of  this  State,  in  a  large 
tract  of  pine  forest,  two  or  three  specimens  have  been  taken 
within  as  many  years.  So  far  as  I  can  learn,  this  species 
has  all  the  habits  and  motions  of  the  two  preceding.  It 
has  no  song,  but  utters  the  note  queet  often,  and  in  a 
sprightly  tone,  as  it  searches  among  the  shrubbery  for  its 
favorite  food  of  spiders  and  small  caterpillars. 

ICTERIA,  ViEiLLOT. 

Icteria,  Vieillot,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.  I.,  (1790)  85. 

Bill  shorter  than  the  head;  broad  at  the  base,  but  rapidly  becoming  compressed 
or  much  higher  than  broad,  with  the  ridge  elevated  and  sharp  from  the  very  ba.«e 
of  the  bill;  the  upper  outline  much  curved  throughout;  the  commissure  less  curved. 


THE   YELLOW-BREASTED   CHAT. 


Nutt.  Man.,  L  (1832) 


209 

f-il;  ta,.i  longer  than  the  tci^;  i,  ^^  )  :  ;:V"^  "f^  «"'•  ^'^  ^'tal  iisMes 
'nnerside;  l„„ral  toes  about  enu  .1  .lu  -r  1  M  ,  ''.  "'"'  ""iH'a'ion-s  on  the 
t  .0  tail,  rounded,  the  tir.t  quil, 'l      ..  ^^       V      '',""^«'-=  -"'"«  "''""t  equal  to 

0  vo,  beneath  yellow;  abdLen/e  ,  ,  V.  xi  Z  Tr  ""  ^''■■•""""""'  "'-- 
wliite.  '    -'-""'''  "w-^'lliii-y  patch,  and  line  to  the   bill, 

ICTEEIA  VIEIDrS.-/?„„„^„„,. 

Tlie  Yellow-breasted  Chat. 
f'>mcf,partrm,Gmdin.    Svst.  Nat.  I  (17881  oqf 

2S0-  And.  o.n.  n^o,7u:\rs^'^^.  t:ir'  ''"•  '^'• 

P'pra  pu/y,lotia,  AVil.on.    Am.  Or'n.,  L  (1808)  90. 

r)KscnirTioN. 

tl.e  inside  of  win^  Sand^og  -v  1  o7a   ft     '       ?  "T'T''""  =  """^''"  '"'•'■'''  "•^'"'•'"g 

'"•■  «o  »>.c  tip  of  the  tail;  'st\, :;;;;;  ;v''"''7''r/-'»  »■-  p-'nt  of  the 

;>.«  outer  .side  of  the  tibia  p.un.beou.    a       .^       .''"of  "'""  '"""  °"  ♦'"'  -'-' 
forehead  and  sides  of  the  head  ash    the  In,n«        ^     ""^  ""■'■"'-'«  ^"^'^  the  breast; 
a  white  stnpe  fon.  ,he  nostnls  o^    1,    '  .^^   Z"'    '7'^^'""  '"■'"-  '-  <'.ve  hlaekisb 
on  the  lower  lid,  and  a  short  .stripe  foZ    ,     I       IT'"  ""'  "'^'^'"-  '•^•'•''■"  =  '  P^^-^h 
to  a  point  opposite  the  hinder  Lw,      ,bo     "  ""'•.'^^■'"'- '""'"'"^'^  «nd  running 

I''emalelikethenude,bntsmaller     t  ,     r       .     7'r       ''  ""  "'"'''  ^'^'''  '--" 
l>...'e-l.lack.  '  '"•"■■^'-'Ss  .nd,s„„,t;  the  lower  mandible  not 

Length,  seven  and  fortv  one-hundredth^   i„  i 

Ma.ssacliusetts  seems  to  bo  tb-  i,^,.fi  t    • 

a  very  rare  species.    Evorv  season  f. ,-  +i     i    .  '  '^  '^ 

,.ai,-  l,a,  „„iod  „oa,.  LnTi      ll "s       ?!     7,^^'^ 
says,  that  they  arc  sometimes  won    1,,  *7  ',       ,■  """ 

-a.-  .SpH„.ne,a.    I  have  ^0^    t  ^     ^eS-alirr;,' 
can  one  no  account  of  its  h-ihh.  r  ^'  '^""^ 

Nttttalrs  desonptio',  is  rMl!;;!:  :-"  "•'  "™  *""■»"-• 

"The  males,  as  in  many  othor  mLrritlno.  i-   i 
continually  paired,  arrive  L-oral  ZltSo  1^  VV"  ""^ 
soon  as  our  bird  has  chosu.  his  retr  at'  wWcM  ,   "'      ^^ 

thorny  or  vinv  thicket  vvl»>.„  ,  '  commonly  in  some 

'".a"  -oa,,,.e..h  in  a%a;iet;  :r;dr  r:;::::;":-;-- 


(   r 


i  i 


Uhs  dMH 


urn 


210 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND    OOLOGY. 


\"ri '  ■ 


ill  11 


difficult  to  doscrlbe  or  Imitate,  except  by  a  wliistlino  ;  in  wliicli  case 
the  bird  may  be  made  to  approach,  but  soMcjm  within  sight.  His 
responses  on  such  occasions  are  constant  and  rapid,  expressive  of 
anger  and  anxiety  ;  and,  still  unseen,  his  voice  shifts  from  ])lace  to 
place  amidst  the  thicket,  like  the  haunting  of  a  fairy.  Some  of 
these  notes  resemble  the  whistling  of  the  wings  of  a  flying  duck, 
at  first  loud  and  rapid,  then  sinking  till  they  seem  to  end  in  single 
notes.  A  succession  of  other  tones  are  now  heard,  some  like  the 
barking  of  young  pupi)ies,  with  a  variety  of  hollow,  guttural,  un- 
common sounds,  frequently  repeated,  and  terminated  occasionally 
by  something  like  the  mewing  of  a  cat,  but  hoarser ;  a'  tone,  to 
which  all  our  Vireos,  particularly  the  young,  have  frecpient  lecur- 
rence.  All  these  notes  are  uttered  with  vehemence,  and  with  such 
"strange  and  various  modulations  as  to  appear  near  or  distant,  like 
the  manoeuvres  of  ventriloquism.  In  mild  weather  also,  when  the 
moon  shines,  this  gabbling,  with  exuberance  of  life  and  emotion,  is 
heard  nearly  throughout  the  night,  as  if  the  performer  were  dis- 
puting with  the  ecliofs  of  his  own  voice. 

"  About  the  middle  of  INIay,  soon  after  their  arrival,  the  icterias 
beo-in  to  build,  fixing  the  nest  commonly  in  a  bramble-bush,  in  an 
interlaced  thicket,  a  vine,  or  small  cedar,  four  or  live  feet  from  the 
•••round.  Tlie  outside  is  usually  composed  of  dry  leaves,  or  thin 
strips  of  grape-vine  bark,  and  with  root-libres  and  dry,  slender 
blades  of  grass.  The  eggs  are  about  four,  pale  flesh-colored,  spotted 
all  over  with  brown  or  dull-red.  The  young  are  hatched  in  the 
short  period  of  twelve  days,  and  leave  the  nest  about  the  second 
week  in  June." 

Four  cjrgs  in  my  collection  exhibit  the  ibllowing  dimen- 
sions :  .71  by  .00  inch,  .70  by  .CO  inch,  .08  by  .5i>  inch,  .07 

by  .r)<S  inch. 

The  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  those  small  insects  and 
spiders  that  arc  fonnd  in  the  thick  shrnbl)cry  of  brier  patclics, 
and  on  the  ground  among  the  fallen  leaves.  It  also  occa- 
sionally captures  flying  insects  in  the  manner  of  the  Vireos ; 
and  this  fact  has  caused  it,  more  than  its  peculiarities  of 
form,  to  be  classed  by  some  authors  with  thorfe  birds. 

By  the  first  week  in  September,  none  are  seen  in  New 


lit;?   ■   i 

J! 


THE   WORM-EATING   WARBLER.  211 

IIELMITIIERUS,  RAn.NESQUE. 

bristles  .„„ti„«,  .m.i  :,;!.;  :::',f;T  ■^"•'"«!'^'   '">  "'■•^■''  "•  <•-  ^ni   rictal 

^coMsidorablv  shorter  than  tl.'o  win  J     .'t,  .'.'^'f '"'  'I  •'',"''''  """'  "'"  '"'''"''=  *-'  ""1 

quill  a  -ittlo  shorter  than  the  soia  and  thi:^"       '  '""''  "'""  '""''  '""  "^^ 

HELMITHEEUS   VERmvORVS.- Bonaparte. 
The  "Worm-eating  Warbler, 
f  J/otocV/a  vermk-ora,  Gmc!!n.    Syst.  Xat.,  I.  (ir.s,  o^.i 
^V«a  femetwa,  Wilson.    Am.  Oni    Iir  /i^i      -.      . 
177.  n.Un,,Iir.  (ISn^  ,4.    Ami.  Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1S32) 


Sylvia  (Dacnis)  vemlvora,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  ^SS2)  m. 


Di;scnii'TioN. 

4"'^'" """--- "■»=^^::^^  ""'■"  *"  *-- 

tl.el.ill;  uudor  parts  pale  hro.uLZo^Z         "T',"*"' "  ■^"'^'^'■^■'"»'-3' '>"•« 
-•'"  olivaeeous  on  the  sides,  tail  unsVott"'  '  t   ^r'  T  ''T  ""  ''''''''  ^^ 

J^'nsth,  five  and  (iftv  one-hundredrVn\  ^'^^'  '"'"''"■• 

fiveone-hundredthsinci.es.  ''"''''''  ^"■^'  ""■''«5  '"">  two  and  thirty. 

Tliis  species  is  so  rarclv  seen  in  Ko.^  v,    ^     i  ., 

spoci„.o,.  „,iv„,  „„„„„„„  l^';,:;,  L:  „    ™;'-j;^ '"  ^  , 
States.    A„d„l.„„  dosc-ibcs  its  hal.its  as  mIs"- 

•'  It  is  an  iiiliahilaiit  of  tho  interior  of  fl,,>  f ..     . 
found  „„  d,e  bonier,,  of  ,.»„„»  orh    "|  „,';'"""  "'"'™ 

Smnps,  consisting  oaW,  of  ^  f™ L        °         """"'''"'  '"'  ''•'"" 


i  ' 


I!    I 


mm 


f  ■!  'j 


I  i 


212 


OUNITIIOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


pillars.  They  also  resort  to  tlie  ground,  and  turn  over  the  dried 
leaves  in  quest  of  the  same  kind  of  food.  They  aie  unsuspeetinif, 
and  will  sutler  a  person  to  ap[)roivcli  within  a  few  paces.  AVhen 
disturhed,  they  Hy  otl'  to  some  place  wliere  withered  leaves  are 
seen.  They  have  only  a  few  weak  notes,  which  do  not  deserve 
the  name  of  song.  Their  industry,  however,  atones  for  this  defect, 
ns  they  are  seen  continually  moving  ahout,  rustling  among  tlie 
leaves,  and  scarcely  ever  removing  from  one  situation  to  another, 
until  after  they  have  made  a  full  inspection  of  the  part  in  which 
they  have  been  employed." 

The  nest  of  this  active  little  bird  is  formed  of  singular 
materials,  being  composed  externally  of  dried  mosses  and 
the  green  blossoms  of  hickories  and  cliestnut-trees,  while 
the  interior  is  prettily  lined  with  fine  fibrous  roots,  the 
Avliolo  apparently  rather  small  for  tlie  size  of  the  occupants. 
Al)out  tlie  middle  of  May,  the  female  lays  four  or  five  eggs, 
which  are  cream-colored,  with  a  few  dark-red  spots  near  the 
larger  end,  leaving  a  circular  unspotted  part  at  the  ex- 
tremity. The  nest  is  usually  placed  between  two  small 
twigs  of  a  bush,  not  more  than  eight  or  nine  feet  from  the 
ground,  and  sometimes  only  four  or  five. 


IIELMINTHOPHAGA,   Cabanis. 

Ihlinlnthophngn,  CAnANis,  Mus.  Hen.  (1850-51)  20.    (Type  Sijlvia  rvjlcnpilla.) 
IJill  I'longate'd,  conical,  very  acute;  tlic  outlines  very  nearly  straight,  sometimes 
slifihtly  dccurvcd;  no  trace  of  notch  at  the  tij);  wings  long  and  iiointed;  tlie  fivst 
quill  nearly  or  (piite  the  longest;  tail  nearly  even  or  slightly  emarginate;  short  pi  d 
rather  slender;  tarsi  longer  tiian  the  middle  toe. 


HELMINTHOPHAGA  mHUS.  —  nmrd. 

The  Blue-winged  Yellow  Warbler. 

Certhin pinus,  Linnteus.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1766)  187.    Gm.,  I.  (1788)  478. 

Sylri'i  svlitarin,  "Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  II.  { 1810)  109.    And.  Orn.  Diog.,  I.  (1832)  102. 

(Syria  (Dacnis)  sulitaria,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (1832)  410. 

Descriition. 

Upper  parts  and  cheeks  olive-green,  brightest  on  the  nimp;  the  wings,  tail,  and 
upi)er  tail  coverts,  in  part,  bluish-gray;  an  intensely  black  patch  from  the  blue- 


THE  BLUIi-WINOED  YELLOW  WARBLER.  Jig 

.«i=;;;,::r.:;i;',::;:-;— !--■•.--  -  -  -.  ....-,„„,. 

™'"'l»™>' is  also  very  ,..,,„  i„  No>,  U„„l„,„,      , 
-"all  flock  i„  a  „,a,„|,  i„   I,e,||,a       y 's     Tl  ' 

;;oa.„,.oi::^tti:':Li:;:;rt,:;;;:,rr'''''''° 
i..na.,,.,„,,;:^-t':i,o^^:;:;:r;;;;^rx 

iiost  and  coo-s.     He  says,—  /  » H^'ou  ol  the 

'he  South,  l,a„„„  ,|,i,k  ,„  .„„,    ,'.'°  '°!  '"  '"  "»  '^  ■"  «»)'  from 

."  u.ec,. ;  i,  f„„„  „f  v!  :',    "  ;::;,::;i'-^- f  "i  --'- 

of  gl-ni„g  „„,„„„  „„,„„„  ,°,r„,  ;,,;."•.;;"    ""»v-.r..e,, 

slH.lt.rod  by  a  brier  bush.     It  is  built  i„b/  ^7'  '"'"''""" 
<-oue  or  funnd,  the  bottom  tbi.  Ul         i    \  "'" ''^ '"""^'^''■'"J 

the  sides  fbnnei  oAl  r   "in  ^^'  'I'  "'^  '-"'-'-v-^ 

•"-"^■.' ii-iaHy,  b:::b:;:  1.:;::  i;  1^  r^'^"^' 

-1-  the  mouth  b.in,  .vide,  tbeb..:;.:^^^^ 
h'aves,  and  the  eggs  or  young  occupvi,,.  the   ..dr'  "'! 
lays  five  eggs,  pure-white,  wUh  a  L  ^e  y  f     t^  .       1^      I"' 
"-•the  great  end;  the  vouug  apno^  t  e  firs  I         t ''"''•^' 

«eertaiu.hether^,.e;riLalrbr^:;;:":J 

"I  have  met  with  several  of  these  nests    o]„-n,,    • 
.-81.  open  pan  of  U,c  woo*,  a,,,  veryrC'r-ILI,":::^:"' 


If 


V.!' 


I  J 


;  » 


214  OIlNlTHOLOaY   AND   OOLOGY. 


m 


HELMINTHOPHAOA  UHSTSOPTEEA.  —  Cabanit. 

The  Oolden-wingod  Warbler. 

Motndlln  chry»<>j)lerrr,  Linnicus.  Sy4.  Nut.,  I.  (1706)  833.  Gm.  Syst.  Nat., 
I  (1788)  it71. 

Si/kiii  chriisopterti,  Wilson.    A\n.  '  Mu  .  II.  (1810)  113. 

Dksciiii'tion. 

Uppor  pnrts  uniforiu  Idiiish-pray;  lln'  lu'iid  aliin-o  niul  n  large  pntoh  on  tlin  wiiips 
yclldw;  I)  liriiad  utrcnk  IVdni  tlif  MM  tliriiiif^li  and  Ix'liiiid  tlie  eye,  witli  tliu  iliin, 
tliniat,  and  li)r('|)ait  ol'tlie  breast,  lilack;  Ihr  oxtciiuil  imIj^u  of  the  yellow  crown  con- 
tinuous with  a  hroad  pateh  on  the  side  of  the  oceiput  above  the  aurii  iilars,  a  broad 
nlaxillar^'  stripe  widening  on  the  side  of  the  iici  \.  llie  'iikKi  (larts  p'lierally,  with 
•nidst  of  the  inner  webs  of  tlu'  outer  three  tail  feathers  white;  the  sides  of  the  body 
pali^  asheolor.     Female  similar,  but  duller. 

Lenfjth,  about  live  inelies;  win^',  two  and  si.xty-five  one-hundrudths  inuhcs;  tail, 
two  and  twenty-live  one-hundredths  inelies. 

"This  liaiulsomoly  marked  species  has  liilhcrto  been  con- 
sidcicd  a  very  rare  bird  in  Now  England  ;  but  it  is  less 
uncommon  tlian  it  is  sui)posed  to  be.  The  first  one  I  saw 
was  cauglit  by  a  cat  in  a  garden  in  West  Newton,  Mass. 
Tins  was  on  May  1(5,  1S(J1.  That  year,  and  since,  I  have 
found  it  occurring,  in  small  numbers,  from  the  14th  to  the 
80th  of  J[ay.  The  higher  branches  of  trees,  in  the  vicinity 
of  swampy  land,  appear  to  bo  its  favorite  hunting-places.  It 
may  be  seen  seeking  its  food  quite  diligently  along  tin; 
branches  and  among  the  twigs,  moving  by  short  leaps,  and 
stoj)])ing  often  to  utter  its  drawling  note,  ^  zec-zee-zee-zce^  or 
'  dee-dce-dec-dee.^ 

"  I  once  saw  one,  who,  having  seemingly  fmislied  his 
morning  meal,  was  ))orchcd  on  the  topmost  twig  of  a  tree, 
quite  motionless,  occasionally  uttering  the  above  song, 
which  is  easily  recognized  from  that  of  any  of  our  other 
Warblers.  On  my  alarming  him,  ho  flew  down  among  the 
undergrowth  of  young  birches,  and  pcrmiUed  mo  to  approach 
quite  near  him:  while  watching  his  movements,  1  ol)served 
a  Nashville  AYarbler  aliglit  on  the  same  bu.sh  in  wliich  ho 
was  moving,  when  the  Golden-wing  immediately  gave  light, 
and  chased  the  intruder  away.     I  have  never  observed  the 


|f*L 


f}f» 


THK   NASnVILLK   WARBLER. 


216 


«pccics  m  autumn,  and  all  the  specimens  that  I  havo  mot 
with  were  nu,l..s.  It  roar«  its  y,.un^r  U,  the  more  northom 
rof-ious  prolmbly;  and  uinters  l.eyond  the  southern  limits 
of  the  Lniun,  in  the  We.st  In.lies,  Central  America,  and 
even  as  far  south  as  J}.,o„tu,  S.A.  This  Warhh-r  is  not 
given  m  any  of  the  lists  of  the  birds  of  Maine  or  Vermont 
that  I  have  seen  ;  but,  as  it  occurs  in  such  small  numbers,  it 
ma V  have  been  overlooked,  (,r  perhaps  is  now  becomin..'  a 
regular  visitor,  during  the  sprino-  mij^rations,  in  New  Eng- 
land." _  Letter  from  He»ry  A.  Turdle. 


HI  .MINTHOPHAG A  EUFICAPILLA.  -  BairJ. 
The  Nashville  Warbler. 

Syk-ia  ruhnr„i,ma,  Wils.ni.     Am.  Orti.,  V[.  (ISfj)  15. 
Siilvia  { DaaiU)  vuLrkttj/dh,  Nuttall.    Man,,  I.  ( lb32)  '412. 

DESCltll'I'KiN. 

iroa.1  a,Hl  ,u.,.k  above  an.l  on s  asl,-,.ray,  tl.o  crown  with  a  patch  of  oon- 

.  -alcd    .lark  .m.vn,sh-o,.an«e   l,i,l,lcn    .,v  ashy  tips  to  ,hc  .ca.hcrs'u'U   parts 
.vc-Krecu,     n.l.tcM   on  th.  r.nnp;    un.lcr  parts   generally,  wi.h  the  c  ij     of"   e 

hNi ;:;;;"'   r ""'""  '""■•■'  ••--'- t'-K'-i-thoiive,  „  cjyi 

lo«.>h-Mu.c  rmf,  ro„„,l  ,|.o  ,.,,„    ,ho  ,orcs  ycllowisl,  :  „„  supcrciliarv  stripe-  the 
"..-  cl^cs    ot    the  tail    feathers  n,„r«inecl  with  dull-white.     'iM.n.ai;  sin  i  Ir    ^ 
duller,-     he  under  parts  paler;  hut  lit.le  trace  of  ,he  red  of  the  crown. 

roull'd        "  '"■'  "'""'   "'"  "■'""■'  '""^'  "'"  '"•''"^■^''    "'«  '""  «"'«r«in„,e,  not 
In  a..tumn,  the  entire  upper  parts  are  olive-reen,  tinned  with  yellowish  on  the 

run.p.  son.e  nnes  w.th  hrownis the  h,.ad :  the  patch  on  the  cr^wn  „.  .     Z  le 

eoncealed;    he  tcn.ale  has  the  white  on  the  n.iddle  .,f  the  hellv  n.ore  extended 

Length,  tour  and    si.xty-live   one-huM,lrcdlhs  inch,.s;    win-    two   ind  f,.Wv  .vv,> 

one-lunulred.hs  indu.,  tail,  two  and  live  one-hundredihs  in,  helT  ' 

This  species  is  quite  common  in  the  sprino-  mi-rations 
arriving  about  the  first  week  in  ifay  ;  but  few' breed  in  the 
southern  districM  of  New  England.  Like  some  other  spe- 
cies.  It  has  gro\.  a  much  more  abundant  than  it  was  a  few 
years  since,  and  is  now  quite  common  in  localities  where  it 
was  once  a  stranger.  Its  habits  arc  like  those  of  the  other 
Warblers,  eminently  active  and  industrious:  it  seems  always 


V' 


If 

I 


i.* 


Ill 


210 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


moving  throiigli  tlio  foliiigo,  gloaiiing  its  insect  food.  Its 
not.0  is  a  peculiar  one,  ami  ou.sily  rocognizod  :  it  is  bust 
dosciibod  or  illii.Htnitod  by  tho  houikI  prodiicod  by  striking 
two  p('l)ltl('s  tog()th(!r  witli  houio  Ibrcjo. 

Al)()iit  tb(i  2()(li  of  .lun(!,  afttM-  llio  birds  liav(!  pained,  tboy 
conmuMHUj  building  tlic  nest:   tliis  is  usually  j.lacinl  on  tbo 
ground,  in  a  sliglit  depression  usually  niado  l)y  tho  birds 
thonisclvi's.     A  si)ocini(!n  bolbru  mo  containing  three  eggs, 
collected  in  Maiden,  Mass.,  l)y  Mr.  II.  A.  Turdie,  is  con- 
structed of  the  leaves  of  the  pine,  which  are  very  neatly 
woven  into  a  compact,  circular  fabric,  dcu-ply  hollowed,  and 
lined  with  horseiuiir  and  line  leaves  of  the  nine:  the  e<"-<.s 
arc  of  a  white  color,  with  a  very  faint  rosy  tint,  and  covered 
irregularly  with  dots  of  reddish-brown   and  obscure  lilac. 
Dimensions  of  the  throo  specimer  j  :  .(il  l»y  M  inch,  .(50  by 
.48  inch.  .')H  hy  AS  inch.     J.  A.  Allen,  in  his  "(Catalogue 
of  the   i;irds  of  Sj.riuglield,  :Mass.,"   gives   tho    following 
exceedingly  interesting  description  of  the  nest  and  eggs 
of  this  bird  :  — 

"  I    have   foiuid    tlic    nest   of   (liis    species   for   two   sucocssivo 

seasons  as  follows:  May  .'il,  IHC.^.  eoiitaiiiing  four  fieslilv  laid  e<'<rs. 

llie  nest  was  placed  on  the  groiuid,  and  sunken  so  that  the  top  of 

the  nest  was  level  with  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  protected 

and  completely  concealed  above  hy  tlMf  dead  grass  and  weeds  of 

the  previous  y(!ar.     It  was  composed  of  fine  rootlets  and  dry  grass, 

lined    with    (iue,   dry  grass    and    a   few    horsehairs,   and   covered 

exteriorly   with   a   species   of   fine,  green   moss.     The   egys   were 

white,   sprinkled   with    light    reddish-hrown   specks,   most   tliicklv 

near  the  larger  end.     Longer  diameter  sixty,  and  tla;  shorter  fifty 

one-hundredths   inch.     The  following  year,  June  T),  18(!;{,  I  found 

another  nest  of   this  species,  within  three  or  foin-  feet  of  where 

the  one  was   discovered   the   previous   year,  and   containing  three 

eggs  of  this  species,  and  one  of  the  Cow  IhnUing,  in  all  of  which 

the  embryos  were  far  advanced.     The  nest,  in  every  particular, 

was  built  and  arranged  like  the  one  above  described;  and  the  eggs 

must  have  been  laid  at  just  about  the  same  season.     In  both  cases, 

the  female  hird  was  secured,  and  the  identity  ascertained  heyond 


t  • 


THE   TKNNE88EE   VVAHDLEB. 


217 

eourser  j.lunu."  "  «""^>'^^'"'i.  "Md  covered  with  Lushes  uud 

HELMINTHOPHAOA  PERZOEINA.  -  cUa.,U. 
The  Tennessee  Warbler. 

(..^X:;/""- '>•"""■■  -"•  -•. .".  <..,„ ... ..,,  o„„  ,„„^.  „ 

'"""  '"■  '■>-•  '"  tl..  (.ill,  .M.t.r  tail  C.a.lu    wl      ,  "•'"  "'"■"^''•-  "  ''"^^y  li„o 

^v'lder  sections  of  Mui,.o  and  Net  '  ^"'■'"''''  ^''« 

.s.an.ner  home,  hut  of  cou    e  t,     ^f "'.''':' '"'^  "''^>'  «ivo  it  a 
reasons.  "''^  '^"^  «"'>'  J"<%e  from  the  above 

Of  i(s  nest  and  o<>-<.,s  T  nm  ;,,.. . 

SEIURUS,  SwA.xsoN. 
Seiurtis,  Swaixson    /i   ]    t 


I 


.««Trte^k 


"•"ilMip 


fm 


vWi  1 , 


ii! 


si 


218 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


niinatc;  tarsi  aI)oiit  as  long  a"  the  skull,  considornbly  exceeding  the  middle  toe; 
under  tail  coverts  reacliing  within  about  half  an  iiah  of  the  end  of  the  tail;  color 
above  olivaceous;  beneath  whitish,  thickly  streaked  on  the  breast  and  sides;  wings 
and  tail  immaculate. 


SEIUBUS  AUEOCAPILLUS.  —  Swainscm. 

The  Oven-bird;   Golden-crowned  Thrush. 

MotacUla  nurocnpllla,  Linnieus.     Syst.  Nat.,  L  (176G)  334.     Cim.,  I.  (1788)  982. 
Timhisaiiiwpillus,  WiUoii.     Am.  Orn.,  II.  (ISIO)  88.     Aud.  Orn.  IJiog.,  II. 
(1834)253;  V.  (1839)  447. 

Tunliis  {Sciurus)  aurocajiillus,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (1832)  355. 

Description. 

Above  uniform  olive-green,  with  a  tinge  of  yellow;  crown  with  two  narrow 
streaks  of  black  from  the  bill,  enclosing  a  median  and  much.broader  one  of  brownish- 
orange;  beneath  white;  the  breast,  sides  of  the  body,  and  a  maxillary  line  streaked 
witii  black.     The  female,  and  young  of  the  year,  are  not  appreciably  ilitl'erent. 

Length,  six  inches;  wing,  three  inches;  tail,  two  and  forty  one-hundredths 
inches. 

This  boaiitifiil  and  well-known  bird  is  a  common  summer 
inliabittmt  of  New  England,  breeding  abundantly  in  all  the 
States.  It  arrives  from  the  South  about  the  last  week  in 
April  or  first  in  May,  and  soon  eoinmenccs  building.  The 
birds  are  not  often  jiaired  on  their  arrival,  ami  many  are 
the  little  quarrels  and  battles  that  oeeur  between  two  or 
three  mail's  for  the  possession  of  one  of  the  opposite  sex. 
The  birds  l)oth  work  diligently  in  the  construction  of  the 
nest,  which  is  a  model  of  neatness  and  ingenuity.  It  is 
built  on  the  ground  in  the  woods,  usually  in  a  dry  situation. 
The  materials  used  are  dry  leaves  and  grasses:  these  are 
arranged  compactly  together,  and  built  over  at  the  top,  the 
entrance  being  on  the  side,  like  an  old-fashioned  oven  ; 
hence  the  familiar  name  of  the  "  Oven-bird."  The  nest  is 
usually  placed  in  a  slight  hollow  in  the  earth,  scratched  by 
the  birds,  and  is  lined  with  .soft  grasses  and  hairs.  The 
eggs  are  from  three  to  five  in  nmnl)er,  usually  four.  They 
are  of  a  deli(?ate  creamy-white  color,  and  spotted  irregularly 
with  ditfercnt  shades  of  reddish-brown  ;  and  some  specimens 
have  a  number  of  spots  of  obscure  lilac-color.     The  maik- 


THE  OVEN-BIRD. 


219 


ngs  are  usually  thickest  at  the  larger  eud  of  the  egg,  where 
they  are   ofteu   eonflueut,   and   eover  the   primary   IZ 
Duueu.ons  of  four  spechueus  eolleeted  iu  I  nest  I  wt" 

•   ,,  "  ''  '  :'^  !y  •'^^  "^^I'-     A  great  number  of  speeimens 
collected  m  different  localities  of  New  England/ shoTj 
great  variations  from  those  measurements. 

he  habits  of  this  bird  are  so  well  known  that  an  ex- 
ended  description  here  is  scarcely  needed.     It  is  se  dom 
l-ud  in  any  but  the  most  retired  and  thickly  woodec  1 1 

loi  Its  home.     Its  song  is  a  peculiar  one,  and  easily  reco-  - 
n..ed:  it  .n.sists  of  the  repeated  utterance  of  the  syllables 
9u>cha,  ,uu-ka    rjuu-ka,  ,>a.ka,  ,uieka,  begun  at  first  v   .J 
low,  and  rapidly  increasing  in  volume.     1  have  hea  d  tl  i^ 

tic  night.  11,0  l,ir,l  seoms,  at  tliat  time,  to  ascend  into  fl,o 
a...  to  aco.,»iclo,.al,l.  „oi,„t,  „„.,  ,„.„,..,  u,  ..ote^  L    1 

m  tl,,.  jr.Hjla  Kl  lollow-throat  and  somo  oti.or  bird,-  and 
snpposo  tl,at  ,t  .  „wi,„  to.  and  to  »„o„,  „i..  ,,,at  a,r  ct 
to.    .  s  nmtc,  and  to  an.iety  Un-  the  snecoss  ofl.e,.  |al,o,-» 

«hoo  on    the   sTonod,   the  Oven-hi.-J   ,„,„   „.;„,    „.,;„j 
n.,.Khty,  imiuontl,.  jetting  it,  tail  an.l  „tte,-i„g  it,  s^i , 
alan,H,o,e:    ,1    the  nest   is  apptoaehed,  the  tnle   th 
...nsel.  ,n  the  „-„y  ot  ti.e  in.rnde,,  and  etuleavo.-s  to  d  , 
I"'"  »'■"">  'ts  v.e.n.ty,  seol.iing  all  the  tin,e  with  the  gteate 
vH.entonee      If  the  len.ale  is  driven  li-o,u  |,e,  donn5l     sl^ 
»ndde,dy  lintte.-s  along  the  g,„„„j,  „„,  '^^^^^ 

oo.u,te,.,e,„ng  lan.eness  in  a  vety  natural  and  go,      d"' 

This  species,  in  conseqnonco  of  its  ennneiulv  tenvstifd 
1«*..«,  often  falls  a  vietin.  to  snakes  and  sl<n„i<s.  . 

epeatedly  lon„d  nests,  and  left  then,,  in  o„le,-  that  I  n,„d, 
ac,„a,nt  n.ysell  vv.th  the  breeding  pec„Iia,.ities  of  the  bi^d 
and  n,  a  day  o,-  t,v„,  „„   payi„„  it  ,.  „„„„„.,  ^,        ,^      ' 


I.-   Ill 


i  ■  r- 


Nl!IJ^ 


220 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


that  a  skunk  or  otlicr  dopredator  had  destroyed  the  wliole 
family. 

The  Oven-bird  feeds  principally  upon  small  insects  and 
smooth  caterpillars,  which  it  obtains  usually  on  the  ground, 
among  the  fallen  leaves  :  whon  berries  are  in  season,  it  feeds 
occasionally  upon  them ;  and  it  seems  i)articnlarly  fond  of 
small  spiders,  with  which  I  have  sometimes  found  its  stom- 
ach filled.  About  the  12th  or  loth  of  September,  after  the 
young  birds  have  become  capable  of  providing  for  them- 
selves, the  whole  family  leave  for  the  South. 

SEIURUS   NOVEBORACENSIS.  — iV««a«. 

The  Water  Thrush  ;  Water  Wagtail. 

Motacilla  Norehorncensh,  Ginelin.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1788)  958. 
Tuvilus  (Sthinis)  Norebomceiish,  Nuttall.     JIan.,  L  (1832)  353. 
Turilus  nquaticus,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IIL  (1811)  6G.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  V.  (1839) 
284. 

Descrii'tion. 

Bill,  frdin  rictus,  about  the  length  of  the  skull;  above  olive-brown,  with  a  shade 
ofgrci-;i;  bnieatli  pale  sulpliur-velluw,  briglitcst  on  the  abdouu'u;  region  aliout  tlie 
base  of  tile  lower  niandiltle,  and  a  supereiliaiv  line  from  the  base  of  the  bill  to  ilie 
nape,  browni.sli-^-ellow;  u  dusky  lino  from  the  bill  through  the  eye;  ehin  and  throat 
finely  spotted;  all  the  remaining  niuler  parts  and  sides  of  the  body,  except  the 
abdomen,  and  including  the  under  tail  coverts,  conspicuously  aud  thickly  streuked 
with  olivavi'ous-bi'own,  almost  black  on  the  breast. 

Len;,'ih,  six  and  lifteen  one-liiuulredths  inches;  wing,  tiireo  and  twelve  one-hun- 
drcdsiis  inches;  tail,  two  and  forly  one-hundredths  inches;  bill,  from  rictus,  sixty- 
four  oue-hundredths  of  an  inch. 

This  bird  is  not  very  uncommon  in  New  E.igland  in  the 
spring  aud  I'all  migrations  (arriving  abont  the  1st  of  .May, 
and  dcpiii'ting  al)oiit  the  last  week  in  Septemlier ) ;  and  1 
have  sometimes  seen  it  in  summer  in  Massachusetts.  It 
undoubtedlv  breeds  in  the  three  northern  of  these  States, 
and  probably  in  them  all.  In  its  habits,  it  mutih  reseml^les 
the  preceding  species ;  but  it  is  seldom  found  in  any  but  a 
wet  locality. 

Wilson  says,  "This  bird  is  remarkable  for  its  partiality 
to  brooks,  rivers,  shores,   ponds,  and   streams  of  water; 


THE   WATER-THRUSH. 


f!!^ 


221 


wading  in  the  shallows  in  search  of  aquatic  insects,  wao- 
g.ng  the  ta.1  ahnost  continually,  chattering  as  it  flies  ;  ani 

W  f  °  w  ^'''?''''  '""^"^  '*^'°"^  ^'^^^'  ^"d  habits  of  the' 
a  or  Wagtail.     It  is  also  exceedingly  shy,  darting  aw  y 
on  the  least  attempt  to  approach  it,  and  uttering  a  sharp 
chip  repeatedly,  as  if  greatly  alarmed."  ^ 

Althouo.1,  I  have  met  with  quite  a  number  of  these  birds 
in  their  sylvan  haunts,  I  have  never  heard  them  si...  and 
suspect   that  the  followh.g  descriptlo.i  of  its   so.ig^ m    t 
belong  to  so.ne  other  species:  "  They  are  eminently  disti 
guishod  by  the  loudness,  sweetness,  and  expressive  vivaciy 
of  their  notes,  which  begin  very  high  a.id  clear,  falli.ig  with 
a.i  ahnos     imperceptible  gradation   till   they  are  sca.-cely 
ariculated.     At  these  times,  the  musician  is  percl  Toa 
the  middle  b,-a,.ches  of  a  tree  over  the  brook  or  river  bank 
poa.-i..g  out  his  charming  melody,  that  may  be  distincti; 
l^eard  lor  nearly  half  a  mile.     The  voice  of  this  little  Wrd 
appeai-ed  to  me  so  exquisitely  sweet  a.id  expressive   that  I 
was  never  ti.-ed  of  liste.iing  to  it,  while  t.-ave.vsi..g  tl.'e  deep- 
sluuled  J.0II0WS    of   those    cane-brakes    where  I    ns.Jy 

Although  I  have  looked  repeatedly  for  the  nest  of  this 
spec.os    I  have  ..ever  bee.i  able  .^o  find  one,  a..d  will  be 
obliged  to  use  the  description  of  othe.-s.     Mr.  A^crrill  savs 
HI  h.s  paper  on  Maine  birds,  before  referred  to :  — 

"A  „o,st  fou,.,l  .Tune  8,  1801,  i„  a  <lo.,se  cedar  swamp,  was  built 
."  an  oxoavation  „.  tl.e  side  of  a  <leeaye.l,  n.oss-cove,.e,l  ]„.,  so  tl.a 
the  excavafon  Itself  fo..,ned  an  arch  over  the  nest,  instead  of  o.ie 
".H.ic  l.v  the  b.nl,  as  m  the  preceding  species.  The  nest  was  co,.! 
st.'uc  e,l  ot  moss,  and  lined  with  fine  roots.  The  five  c.rs  we.-e  of 
a  dchcate  flesh-color,  spotted  with  light  reddish-brown."'" 

Nuttall  says  of  the  nest : 

"It  is  placed  usually  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  or  by  the  side  of  a 
decayed  log,  a..d  is  formed  of  dry  leaves,  moss,  and  fine  g,-  1 
being  hned  with  ha.r  or  the  sim.lar  fibres  of  the  Spanish  moss' 


iij 

I^H 

'  W^^ 

1     1 

h 
1 

n 


fil 


222 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


(Tilandsia).     The  eggs  are  four  or  five,  flesh-colored,  with  dark 
spots  at  the  greater  end." 

Several  eggs  in  my  collection  agree  with  the  above  descrip- 
tion :  they  exhibit  an  average  of  .81  by  .03  inch  iii  dimen- 
sions. 

DENDROICA,  Gray. 

Syh'icold,  Okay,  Genera  Birds  (2d  cd.,  1S41),  32.  (Not  of  Humphreys  or  Swain- 
son.) 

Bemlroica,  Gray,  Genera  Birds,  Appendix  (1842)  8. 

Bill  coiiiial,  attcniiatc'd,  depressed  at  the  hase,  where  it  is,  however,  scarcely 
broader  tlian  liiuii,  compressed  iVom  the  middle;  cuhneii  straight  for  tlie  basal  half, 
then  rather  rapidly  curving;,  the  lower  edf,'e  of  upper  nuindible  also  concave;  goiiys 
slightly  convex  and  ascending;  a  distinct  notch  near  the  end  of  the  bill;  bri.stle.s, 
though  short,  generally  quite  distinct  at  the  base  of  the  bill ;  tarsi  long,  decidedly 
longer  than  miildle  toe,  which  is  longer  than  the  hinder  one;  the  claws  rather  small 
aTid  nuicli  curved,  the  hind  claw  nearly  as  long  as  its  digit;  the  wings  long  and 
pointed;  the  second  quill  usually  a  very  little  longer  than  the  tirst;  the  tail  slightly 
rounded  and  emurginate. 

Coiws.  — Tail  always  with  a  white  spot;  its  ground-color  never  clear  olive-green. 


DENDROICA   VIRENS.  —  Baird. 

The  Black-throated  Green  Warbler. 

Motncilla  rlren.i,  Gmelin.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  085. 

i^ylvin  rlmis,  Wilson.    Am.  Urn.,  IL  (1810)  127.     Nutt.  Jlan.,  L  (1832)  37C. 
Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  70. 
Syli'icola  vlreiis. 

DEscmmoN. 

Male,  upper  parts,  exclusive  of  wing  and  tail,  clear  yelhiw  olive-green,  the 
feathers  of  the  back  with  hidilen  streaks  of  black;  forehead  and  sides  of  head  and 
neck,  including  a  superciliary  stripe,  bright  yellow;  a  dusky-olive  line  from  the  bill 
through  the  eye,  and  auotlier  below  it;  chin,  throat,  and  fore  jiart  of  breast,  extend- 
ing some  distance  along  on  the  sides,  continuous  black;  rest  of  under  parts  white 
tinged  with  yellow  on  the  breast  and  Jlanks;  wings  and  tail  feathers  dark-brown, 
edged  with  bluisli-gr,'\y;  two  white  bands  on  the  wing;  the  greater  part  of  the  three 
outer  tail  feathers  white.  Female,  similar,  but  duller;  the  throat  yellow;  the  black 
on  breast  much  concealed  by  white  edges;  the  sides  streaked  with  black. 

Length,  live  inches;  wing,  two  and  lil'ty-eight  one-hundredths;  tail,  two  aud 
thirty  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  a  quite  common  species  in  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  and  Massachusetts,  and  is  not  rare  in 
the  other  New-England  States,  in  which,  1  have  no  doubt,  it 


ill 


THE   BLACK-THIIOATED   GREKN   WARBT.ER.  223 

breeds,  tliough  not  nearly  so  abundantly  as  In  tbose  first 
mentioned.     It  arrives  from  tlio  Soutli  from  about  the  2oth 
of  April  to  the  1st  of  May,  in  Massachusetts.     I  have  often 
seen  tins  species,  as  late  as  the  last  week  in  May,  busily 
engaged  m  destroying  insects  (of  which  its  food,  as  also  that 
of  the  other  Warblers,  coneists),  apparently  without  being 
mated,  as  several  individuals  of  both  sexes  were  to-cther 
seemingly  in  harmony,  but  without  those  little  fondlin-s 
and  attentions  peculiar  to  mated  birds.     The  nest  is  seldom 
bu.lt  before  the  10th  of  June  in  this  latitude.     It  is  con- 
structed of  fine  grasses,  fibrous  roots,  fine  strips  of  bark  from 
the  cedar,  and  the  leaves  of  the  pine :  these  are  entwined 
together  strongly  and  neatly,  and  the  interior  of  the  nest  is 
Imed  with  horsehair  and  line  moss.     Nuttall,  in  describing 
the  only  nest  of  this  bird  that  ho  ever  saw,  says,  — 

"On  the  8th  of  June,  I  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  nest  of  tliis 
species  ma  perfectly  solitary  situation,  on  tlie  Blue  Hills  of  Milton 
Muss.     IJie  female  was  now  sitting,  and  about  to  hatch.     The  nest 
was  m  a  low,  thick,  an,l  stunted  Virginia  juniper.     When  I  ap- 
proached near  the  nest,  the  female  stood  motionless  on  its  ed^e,  and 
peeped  down  ,n  such  a  manner  that  I  imagined  her  to  be  a  younc. 
b.nl:   she  then  darted  directly  to  tiie  earth,  an.l  ran;   bu.  when^ 
.IccenxHl,  I  sought  her  on  the  gronn.l,  she  had  very  expertly  disap- 
peared, and  I  now  found  the  nest  to  contain  four  roundish  e.^s 
wlnte.  u.clunng  to  flesh-color,  variegated,  more  particularly  atle 
great  end,  with  pale,  purplish  points  of  various  sizes,  interspersed 
with  other  large  spots  of  brown  and  blackish.    Th.  nest  was  formed 
ot  cH-cukrIy  entwined  fine  strips  of  the  i,..er  bark  of  the  juniper 
and  the  tough,  iibrous  hark  of  son.e  other  plant,  then  bedded  with 
s..tt  feathers  ot  the  IJobin,  and  line.l  with  a  ih^y  horsehairs,  and 
some  slen<ler  toj)s  of  bent  grass  (Affrosfis)." 

_  Early  in  June,  18G3,  a  nest  of  this  species  was  discovered 
m  a  o,-oye  of  pines  in  West  Roxbury:  it  was  built  in  a 
small  fork  ol  a  pine,  about  ten  feet  from  the  ground  The 
nest  and  its  contents,  four  eggs,  were  removed ;  but  the 
birds  remained  in  the  neighborhood,  and  soon  commenced 


11 


sliS  L 


I 


m$mm 


224 


OUNITIIOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


M  ,■ 


l«      • 


I 


building  anntlicr  nost  in  the  same  tree,  but  a  few  feet  liinrlior. 
In  it  the  frniale  laid  three  cg-gs,  after  which  this  nest  and 
eggs  were  removed ;  but  soon  al'ter  they  built  another  nest 
in  another  pine,  near  the  first :  this  nest  was  perhaps  twenty- 
five  feet  from  the  ground  ;  in  this,  two  eggs  were  laid,  which 
were  allowed  to  be  hatched.     One  of  these  nests,  with  four 
eggs,  is  in  ray  collection,  and  is  already  described  above. 
The  eggs  are  a  pale,  creamy-white  color,  with  a  very  faint 
roseate  tint,  and  one  marked  with  coarse  and  fine  s])ots  of 
brown  of  different  shades,  and  obscure  spots  of  lilac.    These 
markings  are  quite  thick  at  the  large  end  of  the  egg,  —  in 
fact,  are  almost   confluent   into  a  sort  of  girdle.      Their 
dimensions  are  .<•'"•  by  .53  inch,  .GO  by  .52  inch,  .04  by  .52 
inch,  and  .02  by  .51  inch. 

This  bird  prefers  the  oliago  of  high  trees  to  the  lower 
shrubbery,  and  I  have  noticed  that  it  is  most  usually  found 
in  or  near  the  different  pines.  Its  song  is  heard  through 
the  mating  and  b'-ooding  seasons,  as  the  bird  is  actively 
moving  about  the  ireos  searching  for  its  food. 

This  song  is  something  like  the  syllables,  ta-te-tc-H-t(7-tee, 
uttered  in  a  i)laintive  tone  ;  the  first  syllable  low,  the  second 
higher,  the  third  and  fourth  quickly  together  and  high,  and 
the  fifth  and  sixth  a  little  slower  and  lower.  Its  song  is 
peculiar,  and  cannot  be  confounded  with  that  of  any  other 
Warl)ler  in  New  England. 

By  the  lOth  of  September,  none  are  to  be  found  in  l\rassa- 
chusetts;  and,  by  the  12fh  of  that  month,  they  have  all  left 
New  England. 

DENDROICA   CANADENSIS.  -  «„(Vi/. 
The  Black-throated  Slue  Warbler. 
MotndUa  Ciwrulemtig,  l,innii'iis.     Syst.  Xiif.,  I.  (1700)  li^t).     Gm.,  I.  (1788)  991. 
.V'/"  Onimhnsis,  Wiisoi;.    Am.  <  »ni  ,  11.  (1810)  115.    Nutt.  Man,,  I.  (1832)  308. 
And.  Orn.  Hiojr.,  n.  (1834)  309. 

Sylvia  pusilh,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn  ,  V.  (1812)  100. 

DESCRirnoN. 

Above  uniform  continuous  frrayisli-I.Iuo,  includinar  tlio  outer  (>d,:ros  of  tlie  quill 
and  tuil  feathers;  a  narrow  frontal  line,  the  entire  sides  of  head  and  neck,  chin  and 


■^Ik^.' 


THE    BLACK-TIHIOATED   BLUE   WARBLER. 


225 

""■  pr.nmrH.s  and  of  tl,u  tail.  '      '"'  "^  ""'  '^'"te  spot  at  the  base  of 

t.-i™:S!:::,::  ™:  'r<""r"  ■-  f-  „„,„,„■„„„,  „,. 

fy  as  lato  as  t|,„  lotil  „f  j^  '  '"',':  «™"-Mo>u,tain  cou„. 

«itl.  the  fact  that  it  l,a,  boo    fo,,,,:/      "r",'""""'  '"S'^"'"' 
on  Mount  lr„ly„|,o,  j,,  }i°       " '"  ''  "  "'»  '"«'""«  »o»«o„, 

-;net™o»  at  .oa^rifi^tlL    "  "  """""^  ^-"». 

J^lio  iiKUviJ„a!s  that  I  >,„  wore  hi  tnll      i 
;;"t».  actively  .„„vi„ga,,„„t  th,-   H,     o  <    ia'c"  "'  "''"'- 
"■exa.-i  oihcr  insects:  they  often    ,1       ?■'"?'""«  "' 
'«'«y,  «A.,y,  and  occasionaHy  alud  •   1  "'  ''™"""'=' 

that  of  the  Nashviii„  ,v.„,,,|„^  "  '""'''-■'  "''"■!'  «■■  <•/"«*,  Ii|;e 

Js  :?s:;x:':;;:;f  :i'--' »'>  oggs,  I  ,i™  A„un. 
"f  »iips  Of  ha,.,  „,„«.,  :,;:,';,;:,.:r,.::/™;-|;  .f '?  -7'-" . 

.™..  on  -,.,&,.  i,  ,..„•,,  „  ,.„^„  ^^j  _^^  ^.--l  .»  h..o,l  w,th  flne 

»■  .1.0  .»,,»,.  e„a.     Only  „„.,  h  Jil^t  rl:.'*"-^'""- 
About  the  first  wook  n,   q.. ^      i 

^o.  England  on  it.  :::^,;^,f:i;;;;:^^^ 


r.. 


ii' 


15 


>i:i""P<n 


226 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


DENDEOICA   COEONATA.  —  Gray. 

The  Tellow-rumped  Warbler. 

Motacilla  cormata,  Linnreus.  Syst.  Nat,  L  (1766)  333.  Gm.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788) 
974. 

Syh-ia  cormata,  Wilson.     Am.  Cm.,  IL  (1810)  138.     Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  861. 
Aud.  Cm.  Biog.,  IL  (1834)  303. 

DKSClfllTlON. 

Above  l)luiali-ash,  streaked  with  black ;  under  parts  -white ;  the  fore  part  of  breast 
and  the  sides  black,  tiie  feathers  mostly  edged  witli  white;  crown,  rump,  and  sides 
of  breast  yellow;  checks  and  lores  black;  the  eyelids  and  a  superciliary  stripe,  two 
bands  on  the  wing,  and  spots  mi  the  outer  three  tail  feathers,  white.  Female,  of 
duller  pltnnage,  and  browner  above. 

Length,  five  and  sixty-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  inches;  tail,  two 
nnd  fifty  one-hundreths  inches. 

The  Yellow-nimped  or  Golden-crowned  "Warbler  is  very 
abundant  in  all  parts  of  New  England  as  a  spring  and  fall 
visitor.  It  arrives  from  the  South  al)out  the  10th  of  May, 
aud  passes  quickly  northward.      But  few  breed  south  of 

the  northern  parts  of  Mnine, 
and  probably  not  a  great  many 
pass  the  season  of  incubation 
there.  "When  with  us  in  the 
spring,  they  arc  found  in  the 
pastures,  woods,  orchards,  aiiti 
swamps,  equally  distributed, 
and  evincing  no  partiality  for 
any  particular  locality.  They 
are  then  v.'iy  active,  and  arc  constantly  engaged  in  their 
search  for  insects. 

Their  note  is  nothing  but  a  kind  of  tdi'q)  and  a  tinkling 
tweeter,  which  they  utter  occasionally,  both  while  on  the 
wing  and  while  perching. 

I  have  heard  of  no  nest  being  found  in  cither  of  the 
southern  New-England  States,  —  have  met  with  but  one  in 
Massachusetts,  and  have  heard  of  but  two  or  three  others. 


li: 


THE   BLACKBUIINIAN   WARBLER. 


227 


l.o.-«cl,air«.     The  e!,    "  !  T "  ^"''■'""""^«''  "'"1  "  fev' 

£::;■-? "- ""  •■■-  ~  "■■ '™ »-.  "i"; : 

aftachod  to  the  twiVs  near  it  hv  m.,.     TT  """^ ''''"'^'' 

»'f  -« ';-■  i»..:f  z:z :::::  t"r"'^:?r;  ;i;;r." 

a  cloej)  uiul  warm  beil  of  thi.stle-dow,,   .nul  H.  ,  '' 

or  ;c.;,.e.  a„d .,.  „,.  „», ,,  :;::;v::i.;  :„:-  '-^-cr  c„„3.. 

unspotted."  '       "^'^^  "^*^  extremity  is 

From  the  last  of  Septombor  uritil  tlie  middle  of  October 
I'oy  become  very  plentiful  a,,ain,  and  may  be  seen  h  t  ^' 
den.cl.ed  f  .eks  m  all  the  fields,  orchards,^nd  wood  o^S 
<-^n.hy:  they  are  very  abundant  in  stubble-fields-  and  I 
have  seen  as  n.any  as  fifty  iu  a  ilock  start  at  the  repo  of 
n.y  gun,  when  1  have  beeii  quail-shooting.  ^ 

DENDEOICA  BLACKBUfiNI^._/?„,>j. 
The  Blackburnian  Warbler. 

Sylria  Blavkburnuv,  Wilson.     4n,   i.r      I  r  nsiVS     l 
A...1.  Or„.  Kio^..,  H.  (1S34)  208;  -:;,';"y3^_'">- "'•  ^l*")  «'7-    N«tt.  Man,,  I.  (1832)  379. 
Syldnjmn,.,,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  V.  (181")  114 
Z/tm/yci  Warbler,  Authors. 


*       !I 


l,K{f| 


I  lyii  imm 


■^m^HJkim 


"PP 


228 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


i'l 


DKacniiTioN. 

TTppor  pnrfs  nrnrly  uniform  1)1iif'l<,  with  a  whitish  Rcnpiilnr  stripe  and  n  large 
white  patch  ill  the  -iiicMIc  nf  tin  win;,'  coverts;  an  olih)!!},'  pad  h  in  Ihc  niiihlli'  of 
tlio  croivn,  and  the  entire  side  of  the  head  and  ne(  k  (ineludiiiff  a  superciliary  siripo 
from  the  nostrils),  the  chin,  throat,  and  liirepart  of  the  breast,  I  ri);ht  orange-red; 
a  black  stripe  from  tl>c  commissure  passing  over  tlic  lower  half  of  the  eye,  and 
inelnding  the  car  coverts,  with,  however,  nn  orange  crescent  in  it,  just  below 
<he  eye,  the  extreme  lid  being  black;  rest  of  under  parts  white,  strongly  tinged 
with  ytdlowish-orange  on  the  breast  and  lielly,  and  streaked  with  bl.ii  U  on  the  sides; 
outer  three  tail  feathers  white,  the  shafts  and  tips  dark-brown,  the  fcjurtli  and  fifth 
spotted  much  with  white,  the  other  tail  feathers  and  quills  almost  black.  Feinalo 
similar;  tlie  colors  duller;  the  feathers  of  tlie  upper  i)arts  with  olivaceous  edges. 

I-ength,  live  and  lifly  one-himdreilths  inches;  wing,  two  and  eighty -three  one- 
huiidredths  inches;  tail,  two  and  twenty-five  onc-huiidredths  inches. 

This,  tlic  most  beautiful  of  all  our  AVarl)lcrs,  is  a  rare 
summer  inluibitaut  of  all  New  England.  Dr.  Brewer  found 
it  breeding  in  the  eastern  part  of  Massachusetts.  Verrill 
says  it  breeds  in  J^Iaiue  ;  Dr.  Thompson  says  it  breeds  in 
Vermont;  and  I  have  seen  it  in  New  Ilamijsliire  in  the 
season  of  incubation.  It  is  a  shy  and  mlstrnstftd  species, 
and  is  found  only  in  the  deepest  woods,  where  it  keeps  in 
the  thickest  foliage  of  tall  trees.  Its  nest  and  eggs  I  have 
not  seen,  and  1  am  obliged  to  give  the  description  by 
Audubon:  "It  [the  nest]  is  composed  externally  of  dif- 
ferent textures,  and  lined  with  silky  fibres  and  thin  (k'licate 
strips  of  fine  bark,  over  which  lay  a  thick  bed  of  feathers 
and  horsehair.  The  eggs  are  small,  very  conical  towards 
the  smaller  end,  pure-white,  with  a  i'aw  spots  of  light-red 
towards  the  larger  end.  It  was  found  in  a  small  fork  of  a 
tree,  five  or  six  feet  from  the  ground,  near  a  brook." 


^|.    1 


DENDROICA  CASTANEA.  —  naird. 


Nutt.  Man.,  L  (1832)  382. 


The  Bay-breasted  Warbler. 

SuMa  castnnea,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IL  (1810)  07. 
Aud.  Om.  Diog.,  L  358. 

Deschii'tion. 

Male.  —  Crown  dark  reddish-chestnut;  forehead  and  checks,  including  a  space 
above  the  eye,  black;  a  patch  of  buff-yellow  behind  the  cheeks;  rest  of  upper  parts 
bluisli-gray,  streaked  with  black;  the  edges  of  the  interscapulars  tinged  with 
yellowish,  of  the  scapulars  with  olivaceous;  primaries  and  tail  feathers  edged  ex- 


THE  PINE-niEFPING   WaUHLEB. 


229 

•ornnlly  with  hUmh-gray,  the  exfrnnn  outor  o„o,  will,  « l,i,„  •  H 

"'"i.T  ,i:.rt«  are  whiii,.,  with  a  th.^o  07^  •     f,  "  "■■"""''  ^''""'  "'« 

»!.«  M.U.,  rhos,„,.t-br«wn,  li^h    r    hi      ,.'  ''.  ""■'""'  *'"■"''"■•'  ■"■  •^^'^^"«».  ""'1 

P«(W.  of  white  on  the  in  ,er       b      !'  '7";   '"'"  "'"'•''•  '»''  f^atluT.  with  a 

the  snn.o.  '*'■'  "'"'^  "'"  ""di  the  others  e.lgcd  internally  with 

no  HtripoH.  ''"''"•  ^'"'''  P"'-'"  with  traces  of  chestnut,  b„t 

.worjt;;::^.;;::;;;;:; -^.r^'''^^^  ""'^  "^^  one.hn„.ir...uhs  ,„che,;  tan, 

tak^!fin"':!,l  il'^'^r^Y^^^^^^^o-^ny^nn^  It  has  beeu 
Alloii  took  one  on  Mav '^0 'uh]  Afnv  or  ^  '"""'i-is-  Mi. 
taken  i.t  Jul.  18U->  Z  Ah  ,      ^'    V  !"'^  ^^"'^^''^■^- was 

1-0  never  s^e. 'oliraJ?^^^.^  1 1: ;;:  ^  ^"'•'"^f  <^  .  ^ 
habits  fro.  n.,  own  o..c.;ation      Nm;:tV:V^^  '^ 

i.-g«  ftotn  the  twi,.  with  fiioi-;:  ^:t^'''  ''-•''  -^-^'  -^ 

Tho  specie,  is  a  rare  o„o  in  all  |,„,.te  „,■  (,,„  Ncvv-Ei.Mand 
States,  and  very  litlle  is  known  regar.li„s  h.  l.abiL     °    ^ 


DENDEOICA  PINUS.  - /^,/,,/. 
Tha  Pine-creeping  Warbler. 
SyMapivns,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn  ,  III.  (1811)  •: 
Ami.  Orn.  Uioi?,  II.  (1834)  232.  ' 


Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  387. 


DEscnirTU)>f. 

Upper  parts  nearly  tiniform  and  dcir  „i;,-„  ,  xi     „ 

ra.h..r  .lark...  shafts;'  u„.l..r  p  rH  1  ",  v  """rV'"'  'T'''  ''  ""^  '■■•"-"  -'"' 
"•'<1  -'l.T  .ail  ...,v..r,s  (whiel    Ire  r.r  ',""''"''  '"' ^"''  '"'">• '-'-Hi. 

^"vaks  of  .lusky  on  tho  Lies  f  I  ^  t  „  f  «""."'^---""-.  -ith  obsolete 
Kreen  likethe  baek.  with  a  broa.l  :^^:St^:V:;^'^Z:^''''' T'  ""'  '"'^^- 
th«  .n-e  v.ry  obs..ur..|v  vHlow;  wl,„  s  an,!  tall  I  1  ■    '!■  """'  "  'P"'  ''«"«"'' 

"Li.".  a.ul  two  ban.ls'of  the  s      ;„:    t  ^     '""'V  " ''■^"'''^■"  "'^'^^^ 
'■.■a.lM.rwi,lMn.arlv.h,Mennina  171  V"'']  '""''  "^'l*  <"■•"«  "-t  'ail 

J"ll  incoaspicuo..;  white.  '  '  '"''''""^  "'"'  "^■''■•'->'  "'«  '«""i»al  thir.l, 

«.r^:S!;::;rl1::^r-'""'^-'^"'^  '-'^-'  ^vm..  three  inehos,  tail,  two  and 


:H|j 


r,H 


^1,.' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


M 

22 
12.0 

1.8 


' 

1.25 

^=  1 

1.4      1.6 

< 

6" 

^ ^ 

V] 


*%    >> 


-1' 


c^. 


^ 


"m 


.y 


?^'"'  <^, 


Photographic 
Sciences 
brporation 


C 


23  WEST  MA;N  street 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  672-4503 


<<& 


^ 


fe 


ri)  i  ipiiipmii 


230 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


This  species  arrives  from  the  South  very  early,  often 
before  tlie  last  snow-storm  of  the  season,  and  remains  in 
the  deep  swamps  of  hemlocks  or  pines  until  the  weather 
opens.  About  the  first  week  in  May,  the  birds  become 
scarce,  and  soon  but  very  Lw  can  be  found.  A  nest  with 
two  eggs,  found  in  Woburn,  Mass. ;  and  another  nest  with 
three  eggs,  from  West  Roxbury,in  the  same  State,  —  are  all 
the  specimens  accessible  to  me  at  the  present  time.  These 
nests  were  built  in  forks  of  pine-trees,  about  twenty  feet 
from  the  ground.  They  are  constructed  of  the  bark  of  the 
cedar  and  leaves  of  the  pine:  these  materials  are  intwined 
into  a  neat  structure,  which  is  warmly  lined  with  mosses, 
and  hairs  of  different  animals.  The  eggs  are  of  a  bluish- 
white,  with  a  slight  roseate  tint:  this  primary  color  is  dotted 
with  spots  of  two  shades  of  brown  and  reddish,  and  some 
spots  of  jjurple.  Dimensions  vary  from  .69  by  .50  inch  to 
.67  by  .51  inch. 

In  the  migrations,  these  birds  associate  in  detached  flocks : 
in  the  spring  they  are  in  company  with  the  Ked-poll 
Warblers;  and,  in  the  fall,  with  the  Yellow-rumps. 

They  arc,  in  tlie  sununer,  almost  always  observed  in  the 
pine-groves,  actively  traversing  the  limbs  and  branches, 
sometimes  with  the  movements  of  the  Creepers  and  Titmice, 
sometimes  with  those  of  the  Warblers,  and  often  flying 
from  the  foliage  and  seizing  an  insect  on  the  wing,  like  the 
Flycatchers. 

Their  song  is  now  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  Field 
Sparrow,  or  perhaps  more  like  a  mixture  of  that  and  the 
song  of  the  Indigo-bird,  if  such  can  be  imagined.  It  con- 
sists of  the  syllables  tweet  'iveet  'weet  'weet  'weet  'weet,  uttered 
at  first  slow  and  fiiint,  but  rapidly  increasing  in  utterance 
and  volume.  Besides  this,  it  has  a  sort  of  trilling  note, 
like  fre  're  Ve  're  're  're,  uttered  softly  and  listlessly. 

In  the  autumn,  they  add  to  their  usual  insect-ibud  small 
berries  and  seeds :  they  are  now  nearly  silent,  having  only 
a  quick,  sharp  chirp.     They  arc  scattered  through  the  fields 


THE   CHESTNUT-SIDED   WARBLER.  231 

15th  of  October  ^  '    '^''   ^°"*'^   '^  *^^«   l^th  or 


DENDEOICA  PENNSILVANICA.  -  Baird. 
The  Chestnut-sided  Warbler. 
Motacm,  Pennsylmnica,  Li„n.eus.    Svst.  Nat,  I.  (ir66)  333 
S,jlna  Pennsyk-anica,  Wilson.    An,.  Orn.,  I.  (1808    99  ^ 
Sylvia  tcterwephala,  AndinXion      Om      '.'  *'''"*^  •^'*- 
a832)  380.  ^  AuauDon.     Orn.  li.og.,   I.   (1832)   306.     Nutt.  Man.,  I. 

Description. 

g.-eonish-yellow,  the  cro.^  is  contim.o.t  1,  7  '  ''  *'"  ^'^^''^  «'"-«'•  -''h 
ciliary  band,  and  behind  bv  a  S^"  "ot  o  W  ■;  ?  "^^  '^' " ''■""*"'  «'">  ^'P- 
a  line  over  the  eye,  and  another  below  if  •„  '      '     '"'^'°"  ''''''^■'^'  ««^'"l"'fe'  off 

under  parts  pure-white,  a  p.  Ji  h  e  m  t  .f""""?  """  ^°""  ''-^"^"^'  '^'l  -"•- 
with  the  black  numstaehe,  ami 'x^en  i  ;Xl  tl'T,  T?  ™  '"'''  '"'  ■"  '  "- 
dark-brown,  ed.^ed  with  b  uish-grav     "cent  1  ""'"'  "'■"^'  """  ''''  '-^''^^ 

bordered  with  ligi.t  yellowish-grel-'  h  lo  ,  "'"":  "'■'"^  "'"'  ^^■^""'^^'  -''-"  are 
ti.ree  outer  tail  feathers  with  ut^plue   let        "    '  1"°  ^"-^^--^''-'''-te  bands, 

Female  like  the  n.ale,  excent  tl.r  hf  ""*  "^  *'"^  '""'^'-  ^^•'••'^«- 

.i.  bjaek,  the  blaek  n;::S;::i:::^ :-:,|;-  ^^e  yellowish,reen.  streaked 

twen,yt;.;;::;::::;S:^^:;;t*-  «-''  «%one-hu„dred.hs  ^..3,  tan,  two  and 

the  states  south,  and  o,^  aft  I  Massachusetts  and 

f*,  \viucii  aio  plastered  ou,  seemiuirlv  to  mvn  ti.n  r  i    • 
compactness  and  cotisistencv     Th.  ,        •    ,  ^  \       ""  ^''''"^ 


232 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


the  grape-vine.     Nuttall  describes  a  nest  found  in  Acton, 
Mass.,  as  follows :  — 

"  It  is  fixed  in  tlie  forked  twigs  of  a  hazel,  about  breast-liigh. 
The  flibric  is  ratlier  liglit  aud  airy,  being  made  externally  of  a  few 
coarse  blades  and  stalks  of  dead  grass,  then  filled  in  with  fine 
blades  of  the  same ;  the  whole  matted  and  tied  with  caterpillars' 
silk,  and  lined  with  very  slender  strips  of  brown  bark  and  similar 
white-pine  leaves." 

The  nests  wliich  I  have  collected,  and  some  I  have  before 
me,  are  of  a  different  cliaracter  from  his  description,  being 
compactly  and  neatly  made  of  bavk  from  the  cedar,  and 
grasses,  and  lined  with  horsehair ;  but  I  have  no  doubt  that 
this  species,  like  many  others,  varies  in  breeding  habits  in 
difTercnt  localities.  The  eggs  are  three  or  four  in  number, 
and  are  laid  about  the  first  week  in  June.  They  are  of  a 
delicate  creamy-white  color,  and  marked  at  tlie  great  end 
with  spots  of  brown,  which  are  often  confluent:  the  spots 
are  of  two  colors,  a  reddish-brown  and  purplish-brown. 
The  dimensions  vary  from  .70  by  .51  inch  to  .03  by  .50  inch. 
But  one  brood  is  raised  in  the  season  in  this  latitude. 

This  is  another  of  those  birds  which  seem  to  have  become 
quite  abundant  within  a  few  years.  Wilson,  Nuttall,  and 
others  speak  of  it  as  being  a  very  rare  species ;  and  it  is  now 
one  of  the  most  common  of  birds  in  localities  where  it  was, 
a  few  years  since,  quite  rare.  It  prefers  a  growth  of  low 
shrubs  and  scrub-oaks  and  birches  to  a  forest  of  tall  trees, 
and  is  seldom  seen  in  the  latter. 

Its  note  consists  of  the  syllables  'che  'che  \'h  'eheea, 
repeated  at  short  intervals :  it  has  also,  at  times,  a  rattling 
cry  something  like  the  alarm-note  of  the  Maiyland  Yellow^ 
throat. 

The  female  has  nothing  but  a  sharp  chirp,  which  she 
often  emits  in  answer  to  the  song  of  the  male.  When 
approached  while  on  the  nest,  she  sits  quietly  until  the 
intruder  is  quite  near.     I  once  had  a  dog  make  a  point 


and 


■•  *(*,»». 


leea, 


' 


232 


nroT/.ifJT  ANr>  nnx.nay. 


•d  twigs  of  a  hazel,  about  breast-hijT 

'   i'  ■    '  umdo  oxtoriiall}  of  a  l<'v, 

''^'    tilled  in  ivith  )i.. 

;  with  caierj/iilai 

'  !  bark  and  t-imil. 


! 


•     If*  descriJlt^ 
.     mn'\(<  of  bark  from  tlio  cedin 
i!  hursoliair;  hvit  T  have  no  t; 
-,  iu...  i(,;iiiy  others,  varies  hi  breeding  •  .. 
■^ahtios.     The  Of,^c    •■  ■■  'ivoe  or  fuiir  in  an 
i!  ahouf  fho  first  v.     ...  ..-.  Juno.     Thny  aiv 

'       !•  :  color,  and  marked  at  the  .no; 

'ts  ol'.  browii,  which  lu-e  often  conifuent:  - 
lors,  a  roddish-ijrowTi   and   pn 

h  to  .t)3  h\ 
■  '  '  '  ;u  this  latitude 

'■""  ■  ■..  oi!  seem  to  havo  b' 

■a-a.     Wilnon,  iVnt.r:i] 
vara  speoios;  and  li 
f  birds  in  locahtios  wlie/ 
It  prefers  a  gi- 
■•'ciics  to  a  ■  ; 

:-)dlables  \.  •.       . 
i(  lias  also,  at  tii;i 
of  the  M 


! 


'•MiC  of    ■ 


I 'I.  All;   II. 


•,(.«■>'.» 


% 


'i&M 


*fXBI^f 


ri,.'.  1 


Cn 


// 


& 


2      Ul 


ii-in'>ti',|  !■• 


'II'  Vfli(,w.|,.„-K,.,| 


.M-:i|,.li,T.  .1/ 


■>:■■.•  T 


W: 


■'"II,  ill,  s 


•I       lil.rk. 


"■ilsli.  .V, 


111  ,.|-.   /> 


iniiilus.     Call: 


''ll-||;i(,.,| 


«.-  A,„.,/„, 


(M^V   .1 


illinrilil, 


I.    i;, 


'•    i;.'i-i„.ii 


"■'■■'"■"i"l  Nutlial,-! 


'I'll  U'arl.li 


CI-.   Ill,  I,, 


■Niiliall. 


>ll.i|iii-ff 


"■  I  \ 


'"'lltcli,    .V 


'■  S,ua  (■ 


I'll/ill 


IS.iii-il. 


'"i'i'-rli!(i.it,,,|  s 


I.    Sill,,    ( 


•iiiii'li  I 


"•'■'■       (MM.lii 


"""■I'lil-.l.   ./, 


|i:iri-ii-.v,  y, 


nil,,,  /, 


.'/'  INilli: 


I  '.     i:. 


I-'      K 


^IMi-rmv,  .V. 


I, 


/:-/.' 


iiiiiihiiliin  (i.'i, 
>V|..,(,.r. 


'■"///v.     ]] 


nil;i|iartit. 


•'•'•^(•••1  <i|-n4l«lk,    ( 


"  '""'«"»■«.     liair.!. 


i^t   Itlarlil.irl 


l.llrnrii  /„,/, 


■f/'llriiiK.     I 

"'Ji/llli;ll\  I, 


''iiiiiiin.     .Si, 


iili.i|,.,,.(,, 
"I'^iuins 


Sun  ill.. 


IJ  1' 


THE   BLACK-POLL   WABBLKR. 

at  one  While  she  was  sitting  on  her  nest,  and  she 
pernn   od  n.o  to  touch  her  before  she  fle;  off. 

By  the  fn-st  week  in  Septen.hor,  the  old  birds  and 
apparent  y,n  a  group  by  theuKselves,  leave  for  th 
and  wnater  n.  Panama  and  the  Uai  amas. 


233 
almost 

young, 
South, 


DENDEOICA   STRIATA.- IMr J. 
The  Black-poll  Warbler. 

N."rS,r"'  '"""■    "■■'•'-■  '■"•■'  «"•  <"".  m.  «..    c,n.  S..,. 

A.f  o:;,:'i;;:::,;'i:'™34^:i.°"'-'  "■ """  «•  "->•  >'-.  ■■  (.«»>  m. 

Syh-ui  au/umnulls,  Wihon.    Am.  Om    Trrnsii,n-      . 

.".  Nu„.  M.„., ,.  am,,  a.,.  ,.":.le"'n 'Ui.?™-  ""'■•  '• """ 

Desckiption. 

restof  upper  pans,. ;yi,.h.uJ        2       1h''  ""T'^"  ^"^  """'"'^  «'■'"«  eve, 
black,  ..in,a.u.  tail  tdt„e.  bl-  'd^     e'  :;;::,:^^^    -nspieuouslv  .streaked  .ith 

tialscd-ed  with  the  same;  under  parts  ,vhif    ,  V  '""*''  "''■'^'''^'  "'«  *«=>•- 

<l.r..at  from  the  chin  to  he  id  so  hi  '  '  ""'"''"'  '""  ""  '^"^''^  ""^^  '"e 
black  streaks  continued  alon.  tt  bro  a  T  ."  ."" ."  '""■"  '"'°  '^  ^''•'-  P«»^'''  o^ 
tail  .ea.hers  with  an  obli,ue  M  oi  il      ^l  ,      ""  '""'  "^  '""  ^"'' '  «"'-  '-» 

internally  with  white.  "  '"""■"  '"'^'^  "^'"'-  ^'''^  ""1.  "'e  others  edged 

Female  similar,  exccnt  flmf  »i.„ 

c,.».„,  .„..u„,  ..■„„  :i  "1 :,,;"'::,  r"-r  "''?"""•■  ■""• "» »» "■« 

i.™eii. .1  ,„.ic,  livo «,,a ,,™ ,,.  0        , '  ; ""  ''■■ '  ''""'>' ""  """'Si'  i' 

u^>. .... .na .w..v-«™ irr,;::*^^^^^    '■"""'  "■■"'• ""«'-». 

This  bird,  altliongi,  very  abundant  in  all  parts  of  N„„- 

'"£''."::;'"/"'""='  "'^"•""'"'^' "»--  f-  to  t„f„^ 

to  b.ccd,  but  fcv,r  remain  iu  the  States  tbrou.rl,  tbo  breed 
...g  season,  and  tboso  in  the  n.ost  northern  .is     ets     It" 

zrieret^o'"";''"'""' ""  '"^'  "^*  ">  ''^^»^ 
™"oction,b„thfou:d:tUi::::::tT.i:ir 

»tn,cted  of  first  a  layer  of  twigs  and  grass,  then  lh„ 


.|ij  i*mm 


234 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


'     i 


if!  rii 


:(  < 


fill 


loaves  of  the  piiio,  and  moss ;  those  materials  are  twuicd 
into  a  compact  Htructure,  somewhat  bulky,  and  deeply 
hollowed,  and  lined  with  feathers  of  wild  birds  and  luiirs 
of  dillerent  aninuils.  A  neat  complement  of  four  eggs  in  my 
collection,  fuinished  by  my  friend,  George  A.  IJoardmun, 
are  of  a  grayish-white  color,  thiclcly  marked  with  spots  and 
blotches  of  two  or  throe  shades  of  brown  and  pur])le. 
Dimensions  vary  from  .71  by  M  inch,  to  .GO  by  .50  inch. 
Audubon  descril)es  the  only  nest  of  this  bird  that  he 
ever  met  with  as  follows ;  — 

"  It  wiiH  placed  about  thrcio  foot  from  tlio  ground,  in  tlic  fork  of 
a  small  brauoli,  close  to  tiie  main  stem  of  a  fir-tree.  Its  diameter 
internally  was  two  inclies,  the  depth  one  and  a  half:  externally,  it 
resembled  the  nest  of  a  white-crowned  sparrow,  being  formed  of 
green  and  white  moss  and  licliens,  intermixed  with  coarse  (h-icd 
grass ;  within  this  was  a  layer  of  bent  grass,  and  tiie  lining  was  of 
very  dark-colored,  dry  moss,  looking  jH-ecisely  like  horsehair, 
arranged  in  a  circular  direction  with  great  care.  Lastly,  there  was 
a  thick  bed  of  large,  soft  feathers,  some  of  which  were  from  ducks, 
but  most  of  them  from  willow-iirouse." 

The  same  author  describes  the  habits  of  this  bird  as 
follows :  — 

"  You  see  it  darting  in  all  directions  after  Insects,  cliasing  them 
on  the  wing,  and  not  unfro(juontly  snapping,  so  as  to  emit  the  click- 
ing sound  characteristic  of  the  true  Flycatclier.  Its  activity  is 
pleasing;  but  its  notes  have  no  title  to  be  called  a  song.  They  are 
shrill,  and  resemble  the  noise  made  by  striking  two  small  pebbles 
together,  more  than  any  other  sound  I  know." 

I  cannot  agree  with  Professor  Baird,  that  the  Autunuial 
Warbler  of  authors,  and  tiic  young  of  the  Bay-breasted, 
arc  identical,  at  least  in  New  England  ;  but  I  am  persuaded 
that  the  young  of  the  present  species  is  the  S'l/lvia  aufumnaUs. 
And  it  seems  to  me,  that  no  other  argument  is  needed  to 
establish  this  beyond  a  doubt,  thtui  the  fact,  that  the  Bay- 
breasted  Warbler  is  very  rare,  in  all  this  section  of  the  coun- 


TUB  BLACK-POLL  WaRDLER.  235 

try,  in  spring  and  summer;  and  that   If  -i      m   , 
excoodmgly  abundant  in  autumn      i  .""'''  '"^'^'»« 

'i»d  imturo.     The  dcHcrint    ,    Tn     "•'^""«'«t^'"t  with  reason 
also  agrees  with  that  '•.    ""  ^"""^'  "^  ^''«  «''^^k-poIl 

ciescription.  u.  s^s  or  t^t;:;:;;;!  t..r ^i^-^^^' 

hnU  what  i.s  singular,  is  r.T2.  ^'•^'"""» '^"'"".^'  ^ho  willovv-leaves, 

weeping-willow,  and  s  eml^  i^  f  r"''"f  ''"   '"-'^''-  "^  ti.e 

not  run  along  the  tnu.k  ]  ko  Zt     I"  ■"'.'';'"«  ^^  •"''•''''•'  '^"t  'lo 

Novena,or,  thov  ar,  no  lont ,  to  f  "'•  ^'^'•'  ^''^^  ^«^  «*• 
uncommonly  nnhl.     The.     bi  ,,    /  .  .f"'  '  ""'""  ^'"  «^""-»  '- 

-ia.  in  spring,  on  thei^^avol^'t^ir  IT  •';"""^"  '^^""^^''- 
I'-y  Journey,  or  f^.„.e,,  ,L  t<:^  ^'^  '  L  ^  ^  '^'"  "f  7  ^'^ 
novor  yet  n,et  with  one  of  them  in  1    !  "' ^  *"'"  ^  '"'^•" 

I  Lave  seen  „,ore  than  a  hun  Ir   1       '''"' Z^'^^''"'  '''-^"''  >'•  Oetober 

"  J-'ngth,  four  in,.hes       ,     "         '"        '""""'^  "^'^"••«'«"- 
wl.0.0  npper  parts  .:^:^^r2ZT'  'T''^^  ^^^^  "-'«-; 
•^'■•■'IH-;  tail  c-overts  ash  tC  '  w         r    "'  ''"  ^"""^  ^^''''^  ''"^I^V 
•'"H-wime;   the  tln.ee  tS't^:^^^^ 

^^I'ite;  wings  deep.,lusky  edil  .  ,        "^'"^  "^""'  "'^^  ^'I' with 

';-  of  whiie;  pHmarier.:,  f ;;  t^T  '"''''''  ''''  ^- 
'"'^'  ''".ly  -Iged  .ith  white  ;  uppe  m tl  b  !  T  f "'"""''■"^  "^'^^ 
"■<•"  a^^  the  chin  and  breast  d  dl   .  n  ''^  ^'■^'■''^''' '  ^»"'^'''' ''^^ 

""^  '-ye.     The  „.ale,s  of  the^e  bird    oft    ' '''''      ""^^'  •''"i'  «'"-'-0""ds 
very  sweet  notes,  while  se  rd.inl  '"  T^'^'  ""^  ^°'"«  '«w  but 

'''"''""-  '""'^"S  tl'e  leaves  in  autumn." 
He  says  of  tl,e  Bhick-poII  Warbler  - 


f^f  I    I  pap 


230 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOOV. 


tops  of  tlio  tallest  trons,  whcro  It  is  dcscrlod  skippiii^j  from  hrancli 
to  braiifli  ill  pursuit  of  \viii<,'(Ml  iiiHcctH.  Its  iioto  is  a  Hiiijjlt!  srrcvp, 
HcaiTciy  au(lil)ic  from  Im'Iow.  It  arrivoH  in  I't'iiiiHylvaiiiu  about  tlio 
20th  of  April,  and  is  first  suon  on  tlio  tops  of  tlio  lughi-Ht  maples, 
darting  about  amoiiji^  tlio  blossoms.  As  the  woods  thlokcn  with 
loaves,  it  may  be  found  |)retly  generally,  bciii;!?  none  of  the  least 
numerous  of  our  summer  birds.  It  is,  liowever,  most  |)artial  to 
woods  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  creeks,  swamps,  or  iiio- 
msses,  probably  from  the  greater  number  of  its  favorite  insects 
frequenting  sueh  places.  It  ia  also  pretty  generally  diffused  over 
the  United  States,  having  myself  met  with  it  in  most  tpiarters 
of  the  Union,  though  its  nest  has  hitherto  delied  all  my  researches." 

Ho  then  says  of  tlio  foiimle  IJlack-poll, — 

"  From  its  habit  of  keeping  on  tlu!  highest  branches  of  trees,  it 
I)rol)ably  builds  in  such  situations,  and  its  nest  may  long  remain 
unknown  to  us. 

"  Pennant,  who  describes  this  species,  says  that  it  inhabits,  during 
summer,  Newfoundland  and  New  York,  and  is  called  in  the  last 
Sailor.  This  name,  for  which,  however,  no  reason  is  given,  must 
be  very  local ;  as  the  bird  itself  is  one  of  those  silent,  shy,  and  soli- 
tary individuals  that  seek  the  deep  retreat  of  the  forest,  and  are 
known  to  few  or  none  but  the  naturalist. 

"  Length  of  the  female  lilat-k-cap  live  inches  and  a  quarter, 
extent  eiglit  and  a  (piarttjr;  bill  brownish-black;  crown  yellow- 
olive,  streaked  with  black;  back  the  same,  mixed  with  some  pule- 
slate ;  wings  dusky-brown,  edged  with  olive ;  first  and  second  wing 
coverts  tipped  with  white;  tertials  edged  with  yellowish-white; 
tail  coverts  pale-gray ;  tail  dusky,  forked,  the  two  exterior  feathers 
marked  on  their  inner  vanes  with  a  spot  of  white  ;  round  the  eye 
is  a  whitish  ring ;  cheeks  and  sides  of  the  breast  tinged  with  yellow, 
and  slightly  spotted  with  black ;  chin  white,  as  are  also  the  belly 
and  vent ;  legs  and  feet  dirty-orange. 

"  The  young  bird  of  the  first  season,  and  the  female,  as  is  usiiully 
the  case,  are  very  much  alike  in  plumage.  On  their  arrival,  early 
in  April,  the  black  feathers  on  the  crown  are  frequently  seen  coming 
out,  intermixed  with  the  former  ash-colored  ones. 

"  This  species  has  all  the  agility  and  many  of  the  habits  of  the 
Flycatcher." 


TFIK    YKLLOW   WAKULKR. 


287 


;^»'""t  the  .ni.l.llo  of  (K.,ol...r,  somotin.oH  not  hoforo  tl.o 
last  of  that  uumth,  tl.,,  l{|.iok-,,„ll  Wurl.lor  loaves  on  its 
southorn  n.ignuion  :  ut  that  ti.no,  it  l.as,  in  Now  England 
corta.nly  all  tl.o  cha.-acto,.istics  and  hal.its  of  tho  A,.t,.n..,al 
Wa.-blo,.  ,Iosc.-.l.o,l  abovo;  a..d,  havi.,g  oxa.ui..o.l  .....nhcrs 
..  Hpoa...ons,  r  conolndo,  f.-o.n  tho  reascs  exprossod  above, 
that  tho  spccios  aro  idontical. 

DENDROICA  iESTIVA.  -  Ilurd. 
The  Yellow  Warbler. 
mtacHl.,  ,rM!ra,  Hmrlin.     Sy.st.  Nat.,  I.  (178H)  906. 
.syrw  alnml/,,,  \Vil.„n.    Am.  (in..,  H.  (ihk,)  m 

.V|'""-/,;«,..„;  Au,iMi,oM.   Urn.  Hi.,«,,  ].  ^ml)  m. 

Molaatla  petechia,  l^u^m^xB.    Sy8t.  Nat.,  I.  (1766)  334. 

..p,r;;:"'-;:';;:;i::;::ti;;;' T     '-'-''^  ^'^'-y^'-^  --  -^ 

-1 ;  .nil  .^a.luTs  l.,i;.M.       J:  ;:  .::';;:;  •"  ";. •>■  r'^-^'-'  -"■'  >'row„is... 

This  exceedingly  abnnda,.t  species  is  a  snn.mcr  resident 
-cl  b.-ceds  ...  all  the  Xew-Eng.la..d  States.     It  ai-rives  f ."  .' 
.1.0  hou  h  alHH.t  the  last  of  April  or  f.-st  of  May,  and  com 
.ncces  bn.ld.ng  about  the  loth  of  the  latter  mo..th.     T  "e 
nost  18  usually  placed  i.i  a  low  bush,  f.^cpictly  the  bar- 
1-ny.     Occas.o..ally,  it  is  built  in  an  alder  or  maple  tr 
sedom  more  tl.a.i  fifteen  or  twe.ity  feet  from  the  grou.  d' 
although  Mr.  Nuttall  gives  instances  of  its  b.ing  built  in    hj 
urks  of  a  sugar-maple-trce,  fifty  feet  f.-om  the  ground :  this 
however,  is  a  ve.-y  rare  case.     Nuttall's  description  of  tie' 
nest  IB  the  best  I  have  seen,  and  I  give  it  en/ire:- 

of  W  "f  ''f'''!'^'^y  "«-t  and  d,.rable  ;  the  exto,-ior  is  formed 
of  lasers  of  asclep^as,  or  silk-weed  lint,  gh.tiuously  though  slightly 


i           s 

1              ,  ! 

ltfV  i^  ■*^piif* 


t'ij'! 


238 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY 


i  UZ 


attached  to  the  supporting  twigs,  mixed  v  1th  some  slender  strips  of 
fine  iuirk  and  pine-leaves,  and  thickly  bedded  with  the  down  of  wil- 
lows, the  nankeen  wool  of  the  Virginia  cotton-grass  (Eriophorum 
Virginkum),  the  drwn  of  fine  stalks,  the  hair  of  the  downy  seeds 
of  the  button-wood  {Platanus),  or  the  papus  of  conij)ound  flowers, 
and  then  lined  either  with  fine  bent  grass  {Agrostis),  or  down,  and 
horsehair,  and  rarely  with  a  few  accidental  feathers." 

TliG  eggs  arc  usually  four  in  number,  sometimes  five: 
they  vary  in  color  from  creamy-white,  with  numerous  spots 
and  blotches  of  different  shades  of  brown,  to  a  grayish-white 
with  a  greenish  tint,  and  marked  with  the  same  spots  and 
ulotches ;  these  markings  are  thickest  at  the  larger  end  of 
the  egg,  where  they  are  often  confluent.  Dimensions  vary 
from  .67  by  .50  inch  to  .64  by  .50  inch.  The  habits  of  this 
bird  are  well  known ;  and  its  genial  nature  and  confid- 
ing disposition  have  rendered  it  a  great  favorite  with  the 
farmer. 

DENDROICA  MACULOSA.  —  5rt//(?. 
The  Black  and  Yellow  Warbler ;  Magnolia  Warbler. 

MotacUln  macuhsn,  Ginelin.     Syst.,  I.  (1788)  8S1. 

Sylvia  mocuhm,  Niitt  (II.  Man.,  L  (1S32)  370.  Aud.  Crn.  Diog.,  L  (1831)  260; 
II.  (1834)  K5;  V.  (1839)458. 

Sylvia  magnolia,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn...  III.  (18i^  ^  63. 

Description. 
Male,  in  fjmng.  —  'R'iW  dar'.:  bluish-black,  ratbcr  lighter  beneath;  tail  dusky; 
top  of  head  light  grayish-blue;  from,  lore,  cheek,  and  a  stripe  under  the  eye,  blaek, 
running  into  a  large  triangular  patch  on  the  back,  between  the  wings,  which  is  also 
black;  eyelids  and  a  stripe  from  the  eye  along  the  head  white;  upper  tail  coverts 
black,  some  of  the  feathers  tipped  with  grayish;  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts 
white;  rump  and  under  parts,  except  as  described:  yellow;  lower  throat,  breast,  and 
sides  streaked  with  ))lack,  the  streaks  closer  on  the  lower  throat  and  lore  breast; 
lesser  wing  coverts,  and  edges  of  the  wing  and  tail,  bluish-gray,  the  former  spotted 
with  black;  quills  and  tail  almost  black,  (he  latter  with  a  sipun-e  patch  of  white  on 
the  inner  webs  of  all  the  tail  tlathers  (but  the  two  inner),  beyond  the  middle  of  (he 
tail;  two  white  l>n;;dL-.  .ieiosa  the  wings  (sometimes  coalesced  into  one),  formed  by 
the  small  coverts  aud  secondaries ;  part  of  the  edge  of  the  inner  webs  of  the  quills 
white;  feathers  margining  the  black  patch  on  the  back  behind  and  on  the  sides 
tinged  with  greeiii-h. 

Sec  jnd  and  third  quills  longest,  first  shorter  than  fo.rth ;  tail  rounded,  emarginate. 

Female,  in  spriiuj.  —  In  general  appearance  like  the  male,  but  with  the  corre- 
sponding colors  much  duller;  the  black  on  the  back  reduced  to  a  few  large  pruxl- 


THE   BLACK   AND   YELLOW   WARBLER. 


239 

yellow,  obsoletely  spotted  with  bl  k  •  Z' !'?"  "f  ^^«-''-  »>-k  greenish- 
obsoletelv  spotted  with  black,  stronglt^i  "J  ^.T'  ''^^  ""'!  "--^  yello.v, 
eyelids  dirty-wlme;  'lilFers  fro,,,  the  tnrin7,!  Ij  *-  ,      **  °"  "''  ^-^^''='-  ""-""t, 

the  back,  front,  sides  of  the  he^d  and  Z  a>  f  • '"  '  """°"'  '""^  '^'"^'^  "" 
parts,  much  less  white  on  .he  w^g  a 'd  sMe  of  /h"  ^'f  "'^''"^  '"^  ""^  ""''- 
also  are  duller.  ^    ^  '"^^  °^  ^^^^  ''«ad;  the  colors  generally 

/>mr-/t,  in  autumn.  ~  Similar    cenerallv    tn  th  ,     ■ 

yellow,  brighter  on  the  ru.nn-  resf  ot  u, Ir  )  T  '  '"  ^""^  ^«'='^  ^■•''«"i«h- 
obsoletely  streaked  with  bla  k,  Te  Ih   as  .'"n  H     T'"'''  '""''^  P-ts  yellow, 

-.ite  on  the  wings  reduced  to  t;cn„rw;l°\tl''^^^^^^^  "'""•'  ''^"-•"•«'^'  "- 
round  the  eye;  bill  light  brown:   b.sal  nar    nf"  ,  "^ '°"*'""°"' ^^''"'«  »ng 

lighter  brown.  '        •*'  P''''  "^  '«^^'"  mandible  dirty-white;  feet 

Specimens  varj-  somewhat  in  the  amount  of  hlnnk  .n  », 
Length,  five  inches ,  wing,  two  and  tiftZZ\       ,     ?  ,     "  """^^  l"""^^- 
one-hundredths  inches!  ^  one-hundred ths ;  tail,  two  and  twenty-five 

before    the    20th    of   May    ^l  '"'  ""'"  ^^^  '^^PP— 

proceeds   slowly  in    its    travels. 

I   found    numbers   in   Northern 

Maine   and  New   Hampshire  as 

lute  as  the  17th  of  June.     They 

wore  industrious,  and  seemed  to 

he,  at   that  late  date,   but   just 

mating.     Hence  I  infer  that  they 

rear  but  one  brood,  and  not  until 

late  in  the  season. 

The  note  of  the  male  is  very 
similar  to  that  of  the  Chestnut- 
sided  Warbler;  and  I  was  de- 
ceived by  it  into  mistaking  this 
for  that  species.  It  had  the  hab- 
its of  tliat  bird  also,  and  seemod    t     ^■'''»''- "»••  •  ^o'lnw  w,„.h:o,, 

fn  nrpPo..  f  l.«  1  Sf-emca     Lower  %.,  Hlack  and  Yellow  WarMnr 

to  p  cfei  the  low,  swampy  woods  to  the  higher  ones. 

Although  I  looked  very  carefully  and  diligently  for  the 
"ost,  I  could  not  find  it.     From  the  fact  that  The  b  rds  w  .c 


240 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


almost  always  in  or  near  clearings  or  young  growth,  I  jndge 
that  they  nest  in  such  localities.  Mr.  Hutchins  informs  us, 
that,  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  country,  the  nest  is  built  in  wil- 
lows, and  that  it  is  constructed  of  grass  and  feathers :  he 
also  says  that  the  female  lays  four  eggs.  I  can  find  no 
other  description  of  the  nest  or  eggs. 

After  the  2oth  of  September,  none  arc  to  be  found  in 


New  England. 


DENDROICA  TIGEINA.  —  Baird. 


The  Cape-May  Warbler. 


Mdfnc'dla  tiyrina,  Gmelin.     Syst.  N.it.,  L  (1788)  985. 

Syhia  maritima,  AVilson.  Am.  Orn.,  VL  (lbl2)  09.  Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  156. 
Aud.  Orn.  ]5iog.,  V.  (1839)  156. 

Dkscriptiox. 

Bill  very  acute,  conical,  and  decidedly  ciin-ed ;  bill  and  feet  black ;  upper  part  of 
head  dull-black,  some  of  the  feathers  faintly  marfjjined  with  light  yellowi.sh-brown; 
collar  scarcely  meeting  behind;  riimii  and  under  jjart.s  generally  rich-j-ellow;  throat, 
fore  part  of  breast,  aud  sides,  streaked  with  black;  abdomen  and  lower  tail  coverts 
pale-yellow,  brighter  about  the  vent;  ear  coverts  light  reddish-chestnut;  back  part  of 
a  yellow  line  from  nostrils  over  the  eye,  of  this  same  color;  chin  and  throat  tinged 
also  with  it;  a  black  line  from  commissure  through  the  eye,  and  nmning  into  tlie 
chestnut  of  the  ear  coverts;  hack,  shoulder,  edges  of  the  wing  and  tail,  yellowish- 
olive,  the  former  spotted  with  dusky;  one  row  of  small  coverts,  and  outer  bases  of 
the  secondary  coverts,  fonn  a  large  patch  of  white,  tinged  with  pale-yellow;  tertials 
rather  broadly  edged  with  brownish-white;  quills  and  tail  dark-brown,  the  three 
outer  feathers  of  the  latter  largely  marked  with  white  on  the  inner  web;  edge  of  the 
outer  web  of  the  outer  feathers  white,  ..lore  perceptible  towards  the  base. 

Length,  live  and  twenty-live  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  eighty -four 
one-hundredths;  tail,  two  aud  tifteen  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  bird  is  so  exceedingly  rare  in  New  England,  that  it 
can  be  regarded  as  a  straggler  only.  Of  its  habits  I  know 
nothing,  and  I  can  give  no  description  of  its  nest  or  eggs. 


DENDROICA  PALMAEUM.  —  5«t>rf. 

The  Yellow  Red-poll  Warbler. 

Motacilla  palmarum,  Gmelin.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  951. 

t^ylcia  jHtecldn,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VI.  (1812)  19.    Nutt.  Man.,  L  (1832)  364. 
Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  II.  (1S34)  269,  360. 


i 


THE   PRAIRIE    WARBLER.  241 

Description. 

."argi„«  of  wins  and  tail  featlu-rs  ,~.  .  I'  n  '''  "'''""" '""  '"'^'''^  ""'1  °"ter 
oyc,  a„d  under  parts  general  v  i  .clu  I  ^  '^f  7'  a  streak  from  nostrils  over  the 
<>H-  '"..iy;  a  "w,iillar/li„e      Jja        ;    sf.     V"'    T'^^'^' l"''«"Kvellow,  paler  on 

"-D;  tl.e  eyelids  and  a  spot  Z  .  '  *  I'iv  ^^  ?'"''^"'  ^'"'^^""'  '"^'^  »'- 
on  t,.e  i,n.er  web  of  the  ouLr  two  JLllrtL-r         t^' ^    '''''  '''''"'  '  ^'"^  '^'^'^ 

Length,  five  inches;  wine    two  ,n.i   f    .    /'"'*''"*• 
twenty-five  one-hundredths  hthel  "^    ™  ''"''-''""1''«^«'«i  tail,  two  and 

liigh  dry  woods      If  i.  '{.,    '^f"''  ""<'  «  s^Wom  soon  in 
aerive,/on„„:  :d  ,:i„   ^     ;     ';,::-  ^^-.'f ->  always 

a  few  tl,at  brood  in  Now  En.dand     T  I  !  "  "''"  °"'^ 

.-t  and  oggs  coilocodi  "Shorn    M,'"  ^m"-"™  " 
A.  ]!oa,.Jn,an,  of  Calais,     m  o  "a     ,^     l''  """'f 

are  of  a  delicate  white   wit'a  f  i!  ;  ,        .'^^"  "'  ''''  "'^* 
n^aiked  at  the  la™  ;  a     iu/  '  ';"'•"  '^"^^' "^'^ 

ioddish  and  brou-tr     T  '''"^'  ^'"^^  ^''"^^'^^^  "f 


DENDEOICA    DISCOLOR.-/?,,/,.^. 
The  Prairie  Warbler. 
Sfjlria  discolor,  Vieillot.    Ois.  Am.  Sent     ir    ^snr^  o-      . 
(If31)  76.    Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (m-)  204  ^      ^     ''    ^'"^-  «"'•  ^iog.,  I. 

^y-'w  minulu,  Wilson.    Am.  Urn!,  III.  (isii)  87. 

16 


243 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Desciuption. 

Above  uniform  olive-green;  the  middle  of  the  back  streaked  with  brownish-red. 
Under  parts  and  sides  of  the  head,  including  a  broad  superciliary  line  from  the  nos- 
trils to  a  little  behind  the  eye,  bright-yellow,  briglitest  anteriorly;  a  wcll-detiued 
narrow  stripe  from  the  commissure  of  the  mouth  througli  the  eye,  and  another  from 
the  same  point  curving  gently  below  it,  also  a  series  of  streaks  on  each  side  of  the 
body,  extending  from  tlie  throat  to  the  flanks,  black;  quills  and  tail  feathers  brown, 
edged  with  white;  the  tenninal  half  of  the  inner  web  of  the  Ih-st  and  second  tail 
feiitliors  white;  two  yellowish  bands  on  the  wings.  Female  similar,  but  duller; 
the  dorsal  streaks  indistinct. 

Length,  four  and  eighty-six  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  twenty-live 
one-huudredths ;  tail,  two  and  ten  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  not  very  common  in  any  part  of 
New  England ;  and  it  api)ears  to  be  a  rather  rare  species 
north  of  Massachusetts,  which  State  seems  to  be  its  northern 
breeding  limit.  It  makes  its  appearance  about  the  first 
week  in  May,  and  commences  building  about  the  20th  of 
that  month.  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  two  nests 
in  Norfolk  County,  and  have  had  another  nest  and  eggs  sent 
me  from  Belmont,  in  this  State :  I  have  also  known  of  sev- 
eral other  nests  being  found,  and  judge  that  the  species 
breeds  not  nucommonly  in  Massachusetts  and  the  other  two 
southern  New-England  States.  These  nests  were  all  placed 
in  low  barberry  bushes,  in  rocky  localities.  They  are  ex- 
ceedingly neat  structures,  the  most  so  of  any  of  our  New- 
England  Warblers'  nests :  they  are  constructed  of  various 
soft  cottony  substances,  after  the  manner  of  the  nest  of  tlie 
Yellow  Warbler,  and  are  lined  with  soft  featliers  and  wool. 
The  eggs  arc  usually  three  in  number.  These  are  of  a  bcau- 
tiful  pearly-white  color,  with  a  slight  roseate  tint,  and  cov- 
ered irregularly  with  small  spot.s  of  dilfercnt  shades  of 
brown  and  lilac,  tliickest  at  the  large  end.  Dimensions  of 
three  eggs  collected  in  Belmont,  Mass. :  .04  by  .52  inch,  .08 
by  .52  inch,  .00  by  .50  inch.  The  above-described  nests 
were  invariably  placed  in  the  fork  of  the  bush  in  whicli 
they  were  built :  the  materials  were  the  same,  consisting  of 
the  down  from  different  plants,  cotton,  wool,  and  other  like 
substances.     I  find,  on  referring  to  Audubon,  Wilson,  and 


THE   PRAIRIE    WARBLER.  243 

'  «'^-     vv  iiboii  s  description  is  as  follows :  — 

or  tincket  It  is  W  cl  out.  1,  /  '"  ''^  '""^  «^  ^  ^^^  l>»«h 
rotten  bits  of  wood  "a  cat  7  •  n  '  ^  'n ""  '""^'  ^"^^^^^-^  -^^^ 
extremely  fine  fibl  of  ^^     ''  "^  "^^^  *^«  ^"^'^e  is  lined  with 

scarcely  weigh  a  ouarter^f'"""  '"'''    ^'^'^  ^^^  "^-^«  -"^'l 
J      >-  to"  '*  quai  ter  oi  an  ounce. 

Audubon  says, 

fouml  to  bo  four  i„  L™t  °      ,    .  ""  "'«'  '  ''"™  ""ifo'^ly 

i*  .P*  ..ear  the  Ci     T,!:""!  ?"'-'  """  ^  f""  "-"- 
lliree  or  f„„r  l,l„tta  of  hll  7.  ,  "  '""'e'^^  a'tacliod  to 

of  a  slcKle,.  iwir  X;  fi  ^  l;  •  ■■  *'  '"""«"  '"■"  '»""  »P"> 
tl,e  Hummi,,;^  „e  '  "^f '  ',"  "™'  '"  '"  f™'"  ''""  «-'  of 
catograylietasa;,,  *',!;:?  "1"*,"™'"-'  »'  ^»«- 
vines."  "  """  "«  fi'ifst  /ibies  of  dried 

Nuttall  .ays,  i„  contradiction  to  these  descriptions  _ 

a.«,  al,o  wi.l,  so„„  ;2|,t    "t       r  "  '"*  """  "*^'™ 
"coddo,™  ((?»»;,/,„L    7,  ,^,^^^^^^     '.*.,  lined  with  cad- 

grass  (^y™,„-,).     The  JJf.T    T^'  '"''"■  '°P'  ■"  •"="« 

at  the  .esser  end,  n>a*e?:  u:  otT  "n;,r"  ",'"'^'  '""^  '"-P 
t«o  difTerent  sliades  of  brown  llTj  '""""P""''''-  °°'i  ""'ers  of 
w...e  „.,  ,,pear  n,ost  lltoC.ir'rilll''^  ^-  »^. 

probably,  i„  differct  se      "" , ''^*'l""='"■°n'' "'at  I  l.ave : 

bird  are  lih      0  0  of  ,  '"  '"™"'"'''  '""""  °f  ""'^ 

,  those  of  so.ne  others,  subject  to  great  varia- 


244 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Wilson  says,  in  his  description  of  the  habits  of  those 
birds, — 

"They  seem  to  prefer  these  open  plains  and  thinly  wooded 
tracts,  and  have  this  singularity  iu  their  manners,  that  they  are 
not  easily  alarmed,  and  search  among  the  leaves  the  most  leisurely 
of  any  o"  the  tribe  I  have  yet  met  with ;  seeming  to  examine  every 
blade  of  grass  and  every  leaf;  uttering,  at  short  intervals,  a  feeble 
chirr.  I  have  observed  one  of  these  birds  to  sit  on  the  lower 
branch  of  a  tree  for  half  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  allow  me  to  come 
up  nearly  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  without  seeming  to  be  in  the  least 
disturbed,  or  to  discontinue  the  regularity  of  its  occasional  note. 
In  activity,  it  is  the  reverse  of  the  preceding  species ;  and  is  rather 
a  scarce  bird  in  tiie  councries  where  I  found  it.  Its  food  consists 
principally  of  small  caterpillars  and  winged  insects." 

In  closing  with  the  genus  Dendroica,  I  give  the  remarks 
of  J.  A.  Allen  concerning  the  distribution  of  the  dilferent 
species  at  Springfield,  Mass. :  — 

"  Of  the  twenty-two  species  of  Dcndroica  inhabiting  the  United 
States,  thirteen  have  been  found  at  Sjjringtield,  and  one  other 
{D.  ccerulea)  may  occur  as  accidental  or  extremely  rare.  Four  of 
them  {D.  virens,  pinus,  Pennsylvanica,  cestiva)  are  known  to  breed 
here,  and  two  others  (D.  Blackburnice,  castanea)  have  been  taken 
in  the  breeding  season.  None  are  permanent  residents,  and  none 
are  seen  in  the  winter.  The  remaining  five  {D.  coronata,  striata, 
macnhsa,  tiyrina,  pahnurnm)  are  at  present  known  merely  as 
spring  and  autumn  visitants.  D.  coronata  is  most  abundant; 
striata  next  so ;  virens.  Canadensis,  tnaculosa,  (estiva,  and  pahna- 
rnni  are  but  little  less  common  ;  BlarkburnicB  is  more  rare  ;  casta- 
nea and  discolor  are  quite  rare,  while  tigrina  is  extremely  rare. 
The  earliest  to  arrive  are  pinus  and  pahnarum,  connnonly  appearing 
early  in  April ;  striata  is  rarely  seen  before  May  30 :  the  otlicrs 
commonly  arrive  from  May  5th  to  May  12th,  and  stragglers  remain 
till  June.  D.  coronata  is  decidedly  gregarious  in  its  migrations, 
and  is  everywhere  about  equally  abundant.  The  others  are  usually 
seen  in  small  parties,  and  keep  pretty  closely  to  tlie  woods,  f  xcept 
]),  cestiva  and  palmarum,  cestiva,  being  never  found  in  the  deep 
woods." 


THE   HOODED    WARBLER. 


245 


MYIODIOCTES,  Audubon. 

neaH,  as  ,..„,  a^  ..il^St^IiS.'  i'^S;;  l? JTI'  1  ""^  ""^^'  ^""^  ^'^  "^'^"- 
convex;  fnrsi  lo„frer  than  the  hea.I  comUloZT  ,^  "'"  •'"""•"Hines  ^entlv 

all  considerahl,  curve,,;  tail  <ieei^;':;  :Sf'rS7  ''".""""^  *"«'  ^'"- 
feathers  one-nm.  of  „„  i„,h  shorter;  winffvr^i.lf  "^ ''?'''''"^  ""^  '"*«■•"' 
qu,Il  decidedly  shorter  than  the  fourth;  cSrlyelW.     ""'"    ""  ""  '""'•  ""*  «"' 

MnODIOCTES  MITRATUS.  -  A>uMon. 
Tho  Hooded  Warbler. 
Motaci/lamitrata,  Gmelin.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  977 
^^y''''' ""''•"''',  Nuttall.    Man.  I   n8S9,  ,-,;    ,"^ 

ff  ":"■"  -■"■""'.  X"tta.l.    Ma'n.;   '    t  ed    IsfoTas?"'  ^''"■'  ""  ^^^'^^  ««• 
^W<c..,.  cucullatu,  Wilson.    An..  Orn.,  III.  (miJToi. 

Deschiption. 

.i,.p,:;™krrbt!rp«":!'r  s  ".'■r*  ?"  ■■» '■  ■"••  «>■■«  p"«  of 

0..0  alive,  and  will  iLo  ,„  ,    ^f  f  ^     \     ™  "^"^  f  ^" 
.lesori„ti„„  of  i>,  habits.    Hosl'y'T  '  "  "'"'•' 

a.K.  .„.  i„,pe„t„  i^::::  ""y::"?'  ™*°'  °'  '"^ '°"-' 

»ci„gi„  for  the  nccliar  rr;,,!  ^""/"""S"'^"  "  i"»t""lly,  o„ 
<»ii  *li.,g„i,l,o,  i'T  onoe  ''"""°  ""'  *""«  "'  i'»  l'™-' 

»iU,i„  hearin.   °    '  ""*"  *'"°  ^o-"-  '=7'''  I""  ooBstantly 


( 


( '  1 


mm 


246 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


"  The  nest  of  this  species  is  always  placed  low,  and  is  generally 
attached  to  the  forks  of  small  twigs.  It  is  neatly  and  comi)actly 
formed  of  mosses,  dried  grasses,  and  fibrons  roots,  and  is  carefully 
lined  with  hair,  and,  not  nnfre(juently,  a  few  large  feathers.  The 
eggs  are  from  four  to  six,  of  a  dull-white,  spotted  with  reddish- 
brown  towards  the  larger  find.  The  male  and  female  sit  by  turns, 
and  show  extreme  anxiety  for  the  safety  of  their  eggs  or  young." 


MYIODIOCTES   VTJSILLVS.  —  nmaparte. 

The  Green  Black-cap  Flycatcher  ;    Wilson's  Black-cap. 

Mmcicnpn  pmlUa,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IIL  (1811)  103. 
Sylvaniajmsilh,  Nuttali.     Man.,  L  (2(1  ed  ,  1840)  335. 
Si/h-ia  WiUmii^'HuUM.    Man.,  L  (1832)  408. 
Mutckapa  M'ilionu,  Audubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (1834)  148. 

DESCiumoN. 

Forehead,  line  over  and  around  the  cj'e  and  under  parts  generally  bright-yellow ; 
upper  part  olive-green;  a  S(iiiare  patch  on  the  crown  lustrous-blaek  ;  .^iides  of  body 
and  cheeks  tinged  with  olive;  no  white  on  wings  or  tail.  Female  similar;  the 
black  of  the  crown  obscured  by  olive-green. 

Length,  four  and  seventy-five  one-hundredfhs  inches;  wing,  two  and  twenty- 
five  one-hundredths  ;  tail,  two  and  thirty  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  bird  is  another  rare  species  in  New  England.  I 
have  never  seen  one  alive,  and  know  notliing  of  its  habits. 
Aububon,  who  met  with  a  luimber  of  individuals,  says  of 
its  habits :  — 

"It  has  all  the  habits  of  a  true  Flycatcher,  feeding  on  small 
insects,  which  it  catches  entirely  on  the  wing,  snapping  its  bill  with 
a  smart  clicking  sound.  It  frequents  the  borders  of  the  lakes,  and 
such  streams  as  are  fringed  with  low  bushes,  from  which  it  is  seen 
every  moment  sallying  forth,  pursuing  its  insect  prey  for  many 
yards  at  a  time,  and  again  throwing  itself  into  its  favorite  thickets. 

"  The  nest  is  placed  on  the  extremity  of  a  small  horizontal 
branch,  among  the  thick  foliage  of  dwarf  firs,  not  more  than  from 
three  to  five  feet  from  the  ground,  and  in  the  centre  of  the  thickets 
of  these  trees  so  common  in  Labrador.  The  materials  of  which  it 
is  composed  are  bits  of  dry  moss  and  delicate  pine  twigs,  aggluti- 
nated together  and  to  the  branches  or  leaves  around  it,  and  beneath 


THK   CANADA    FLYCATCHER.  047 

W  «ro  four,  MlJl^^Jl"'"    r  T'  "'"'  »  ''»''•     ''■''« 

"'«.  a....  in  ^L  ai;i:;;t'z, :;;':';'  r.""  ""»■«  •"" 

nole.      Thej.  raho  only  „  ,„  t,  ■    "',  """'  """""S  "  P'»intive 

male,  slK,.t,,ri,|,|a,7  "'"„,'' °°'>  "'  ,"'"  "''"°"-      'i''">  .VOung 
before  .I,eir  dop.,,,:!  JI Ir.. "'  "'°'  ""  '""^  """i^''  »"' 

Tin's  bird,  accordint'  tn    Ai.,l,.i. 

l"-°eoed,  IIo  f„„,  d  t  ir  !^";  ""  ""=  '^"■"""-  ""'■"'  « 
O-tncts;  it  rcaei  ,  ,  1  r^'f  "'•  ■""•  »"  «'«  i"..nodiato 
tunung  southward  by  the  miadlo  o[  Z^^Jt  '  '"'  ^■'■ 

MnoDiocTEs  c.:nadensis.-^„,„,<,. 

The  Canada  Flycatcher. 

'"■  <f '^)  ^00  A...,.  On.. ,;;::;,  ^  ;  •  ^'•.  ^-  (i^e«)  32.  wi..  a..  o.„., 

I'lCSCRU'TION. 

tppcr  parts  bh.ish-ash;  a  rin-  ronn,!  n 
'ns«„..  ,1.0  .hole  under  part    ^iJ         /  :,^^:; ^'f  ^''■."-•■nn■•n.  to  the  „o. 
vellow,  centres  of  the  feathers  i„  the  a,     ri o     . I   ?r''"'''  "^^  -•"^«)-  ""-iKlU- 
"""ous  ,vuh  a  line  on  the  side  of  ,he  neel   tT  °^  '^'  "°"'"'  "'«  ^'«^«k8,  eon- 

"'e  fore  part  of  ,he  breast,  black-  tai  ifi     ,1         '"■"""'•  "'"^  «  ''•'■•'■'^^'  "f  ^pots  ^cro^s 
'"-k  of  .he  head  and  bre.t  lei'dS  ^^f  ^^^ v:":'-  ,'?"'^  ^'"'"-'  -'^' "' 
'-•■"fitli,  live  and  thirfv-four  opp  1,      i     ■  ,       '     '"^  obsolete. 

This  beautiful  species  is  n  vofi 
autumu  visitor  iu  a  1  New  Fn  f  T'  '°"""'"  ^^^""^  '-^"^ 
Hoctionsof  these  Staesl,'       f",'  ""^'  ^"  ^'"^  "^'-^'^^'n 


'^  I 


248 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


bors  groatly  within  four  or  fivo  years.  It  arrives  from  tlio 
South  from  about  tlio  lOtli  to  tlio  2r)th  of  May.  The  birds 
80om  to  bo  mated  on  their  arrival ;  for  I  liave  noticed,  tliat, 
if  a  male  is  seen,  a  female  is  almost  always  to  bo  found  in 
his  immediate  vicinity. 

AI)out  the  first  week  in  Juno,  the  nest  is  built.  This  is 
fixed  in  a  fork  of  a  low  cedar  or  pino  bussh,  very  near  tiie 
ground,  and  is  constructed  of  pine  leaves,  fine  roots  and 
grasses,  and  a  few  hairs :  it  is  loosely  put  together,  and  is 
lined  with  fine  pieces  of  the  same  materials  and  lichens. 

The  eggs  are  four  in  number.  They  are  small  aiul 
abruptly  pointed :  they  are  of  a  grayish-wiiite  color,  with  a 
slight  roseate  tint,  and  are  marked  with  spots  and  fine 
blotches  of  lilac  and  brown,  usually  thickest  near  the  larger 
end.  The  only  nest  and  eggs  that  I  have  scon  were  of  this 
description :  they  were  found  in  Quincy,  Mass.,  in  an  old 
pasture,  partly  grown  up  with  bushes. 

Tiie  eggs  were  nearly  of  a  uniform  size  and  shape,  and 
measured  about  .Go  by  ,48  inch  in  dimensions. 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  so  much  like  those  of  the 
preceding,  that,  if  the  Wilson's  Black-cap  were  more  com- 
mon, the  two  birds  might  be  easily  confounded.  The  fiiglit 
of  the  present  is  rapid  ;  and  all  the  motions  of  the  bird,  when 
it  is  pursuing  insects,  are  those  of  the  true  Flycatchers.  Its 
note  is  a  shrill  u'cech)/,  iveeclii/,  which  is  uttered  at  short 
intervals  by  the  bird,  both  while  on  the  wing  and  when 
perching.  About  tlie  first  week  in  September,  it  begins  to 
grow  abundant;  and,  by  the  15th  of  that  montli,  it  has 
departed  on  its  southern  migration. 


SKTOril.VGA,  SwAissox. 

Setnphngn,  SwAiNSON,  Zool.  Jour.,  III.  (Dec,  1827)  360.  (Type  Muscicnpa  ruti- 
cilia,  Liniiivus.) 

Bill  depressed,  broader  than  \\\<a\\\  rictus  with  long  bristles;  wings  rounded, 
equal  to  or  shorter  than  the  tail;  first  quill  shorter  than  the  fourth;  tail  long,  some- 
what graduated,  the  outer  feathers  about  twenty  one-hundredths  of  an  inch  or  more 
shorter;  all  the  feathers  unusually  broad,  and  widened  at  the  end;  feet  short;  tarsus 


m 


THE  RED   START. 


249 


---Hiing;  t...  tip ,..,.,  ....a  Lut  Hiii:;;;,;  i:::,:;;" """"' '""  ««">■«  "■- 

SETOPHAOA  BUTICILLA.-S.„,w 
The  Eed  Start. 
Miisricnpa  riilmlln,  Liii„n.|is      qv.f    \r  .     , 

^^'^•'"""  '•«"'•'•''".  Nultall.    JIa„.,  I.  (1832)21;.^ 

Deschiption. 

brown;    Imscs  „f  „11  tl.o  ,„.i„,,  „,    „  ^u-  Z.l       \    ''""''^^'  "■"^"■''  "if'  ''ark- 

This  quite  common  snocios  i«  o  c. 
breeds  in  all  the  xXew-EnS  .J  S  -.;        T""'  '''''^''''^  ^"^ 
South  from  ahout  tl  e     t  t  to  t      "• ,  n  "''""^  -^'^"^  *'- 
ing  to  latitude,  and  con'niences  ""'''  "'  '^'^^'  '^--^■ 

bnddmo-  ahout  the  first  week 
i"  •June.  The  nest  is  usually 
])laced  on  a  low  limb  of  a 
small  tree,  often  in  a  hori- 
zontal fork,  seldom  more  than 
inn  feot  from  the  ground.  It 
is  constructed  of  strips'  of 
cedar   bark,  grape-vine    bark, 

gnxssos,  and  fine  weeds:  those  -    ---^s^:-^.-^. 

materials  are  adjusted  nnofi.r  „   j 

saliva  into  a  co,„  let    tnL;,;;'^'''''''"'""^ '''«''"'''« 


250 


ORNITHOLOQY   AND  OOLOGY. 


of  soft  liclions,  catcrpilliirs'  silk,  and  down  from  the  forns. 
It  is  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with  thin  wtrips  of  grape-vino 
bark  and  cottony  HubstanceH,  and  Honiotinies  a  few  hairs  or 
ril)r()ns  roots.  Nnttull,  in  describing  the  nest,  ways  ''  the 
lining  is  neither  soft  nor  downy;"  bnt  Wilson  and  Andnbon 
both  assert  to  the  contrary.  1  have  examined  a  gnjat  nnni- 
bor  of  the  nests,  and  have  fonnd  them  to  agree  with  tiie 
foregoing  description.  The  eggs  are  nsnally  fonr  in  nnmber. 
Their  color  is  a  beantifnl  creamy-white,  which  is  covered, 
more  or  less  thickly,  with  spots  of  reddish-brown  and  lilac. 
Average  dimensions  of  eggs,  aI)ont  A)/i  Ijy  ..00  inch. 

Perhaps  the  best  description  1  can  give  of  the  habits  of 
this  l»ird  is  to  say  that  they  are  a  conii)ination  of  those 
of  the  Flycatchers  and  Warblers ;  for,  like  tho  former,  it 
pnrsnes  ilying  insects  in  the  air,  and  seizes  them  with  a 
loud  snapping  of  tho  bill,  and,  like  the  latter,  gleans  indus- 
trionsly  ibr  them  among  the  foliage  and  branches  of  trees. 
The  note  of  the  Red  Start  is  a  shrill  chcwcea,  which  is 
uttered  at  intervals  of  perhaps  a  half  or  whole  minute. 

I  have  not  noticed  that  it  prefers  any  particular  locality; 
but  it  seems  to  frequent  the  woods,  jmstures,  and  orchards 
in  equal  abundance:  and  1  have  known  of  a  pair  building, 
and  rearing  a  l)rood,  in  a  garden,  within  five  rods  of  a  house. 

About  tho  lath  of  September,  the  Red  Start  leaves  for 
the  South;  and,  al'ter  the  20th  of  that  month,  none  arc  to 
be  seen  in  New  England. 


Suh-Family  TanagriN/E.  —  The  Tanngrrs. 
PYRANGA,  ViEiLLoT. 

Pyravga,  Vieii.i.ot,  Oia.  Am.  Sept.,  I.  (1807)  IV.  Ii,.,  ArsnUse  (1816),  82. 
Sdatcr,  I'r.  Zool.  Soc.  (1850),  123. 

hill  somewliiit  fitraifj;lit;  sub-conical,  cylindricnl,  notclied  at  tip;  culmen  moder- 
ately curved;  comiiiissure  witii  a  median  acute  lobe;  winf^s  elongated;  the  four  first 
primaries  about  equal;  tail  moderate,  slightly  forked.  Colors  of  the  male  chiefly 
pcarlet,  of  the  female  yellowish. 


THE  8CARLKT  TAN AU Kit.  261 

P7EASGA  aUBEA.  —  F7«7fc|. 
Iha  Scarlet  Tanajer. 

pKNciiir-niiN. 
.'f  n.,1  r..a.l,..r.  an..„/,  ,    '  "  '    ^  ,''"  "^^""''-..'""  K-^-^ruHy  "xlul.it  n.oro  or  leM 

i^ « i.;.r.iv.:o„;  ;.•  :;';it  7;,r''"  ;•:  ""."'■"•''"'  ■""  "■"•-."••""/ there 

Young  m,;io«  are  «on  c   l^  «^  "i,      r/'",  ";':;":^'  '"•'•■'^'*  "'^'  ""■'"""  ^"vcrt. 
like  tl>o  ,„aU..  """'  "'"  '""'>'  '■'"'  "'«  '■«"""".  ""^  wiHKs  and  fail 

^__ j....«.h.  «even  and  fort,  onC.undrcd.l.  i„.,.e.,  .i„,,  r„ur  inches,   tail,  three 

This  fe^audy  summer  Visitor  l.recds  in  all  <l,o  Nou'-E,.gl.,ul 
.^ta  cvs;  less  plentifully,  however,  in  the  northern  than  it  t lie 
sonthen.  .l.stnets.     It  arrives  IVom  the  South  about  the  iZ 

that  month.      1  ho  hivonte  loealities  of  this  bird  seem  to  bo 
oak-groves  situatediiearswan.ps:  here  I  have  often  heard 

then   1.    their  active  movements  in  their  pursuit  of  inseets 
o    whieh  this  speeies  destroys  great  numbers.     The  nest  is 
placed  on  a  horizontal  limb  of  a  tree,  usually  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  feet  from  the  ground,  in  the  deep  woods.     It 
.•;>-  rncted  o     s  ender  twigs  of  the  oak,  huekleberry  or 
Nvl--tloberry  bush,  and  weeds:    these  are  loosely  pt.f  to- 
Ji^ether;  so  mueh  so,  that,  were  it  not  for  the  inteili  in.  of 
the  smal  joints  of  the  twigs,  it  would  soon  fall  apart.     It  is 
.H.t  deeply  hollowed,  and  is  lined  with  thread-like  fibrous 
roots   and   the   leaves   of   the   various   pines.     The  whole 
.^tnieture  IS  so  thinly  made  as  almost  to  fall  to  pieces  on 
.•omoval  from  the  tree.     The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  lui    ! 
her,  sometimes  three,  seldom  five.     They  are  of  a  dull  light 
greenish-blne  color,  of  different  shades,  and  spattered  .'th 


<     i 


252 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND    OOLOGY. 


purplisli-brown,  in  some  specimens  quite  thickly,  'i  others 
less  so.  The  ground-color  is  the  most  proniineut ;  the  mark- 
ings never  completely  hiding  it,  or  sufficiently  confluent  to 


be  called  blotches.  A  nest  complement  of  four  eggs,  in  a 
nest  collected  in  Milton,  Mass.,  exhibit  the  following  meas- 
uremei  ts:  .97  by  .GO  inch,  .93  by  .Go  inch,  .90  by  .G2  inch, 
.88  by  .04  inch.  Other  specimens  show  no  grout  variations 
from  these  dimensions. 

The  Scarlet  Tanager  thrives  well  in  confinement,  and 
makes  a  beautiful  and  interesting  pet.  I  oiu'.e  kept  one 
caged  for  over  six  months.  Ho  cat  seeds  and  small  fruits, 
and,  within  a  week  after  his  capture,  chanted  his  warbling 
song  with  i)orfecfc  freedom.  He  had,  and  I  have  also  noted 
that  all  of  this  sj)eeies  )'ave,  a  sort  of  ventriloquism  in  his 
song:  it  at  times  sounded  as  if  at  quite  a  distance;  and  I 
have  been  deceived  in  this  manner,  by  birds  that  were  almost 
over  my  head,  into  supposing  that  they  wore  far  away. 


THE  SCARLET  TANAGEB.  £53 

XcitMt;  """"^  "*"°'^'  --'""^'  '"«=  t„: 

i:arly  in  8eptembor,  tlie  Tanagors  leave  for  tl.o.V  ^n.ii 
.o.nos;  f,.„,„  w„ici.  .„„,  .ecu,  wWIo  ,.„,;  t  /   .'  ,f  ™'    a"! 
ua  dorci-s,  so  commonly  do  wo  associa,    pandy  Zm  t 


Kil 


254 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  HIRUNDINIDiE.     The  Swallows. 
Suh-Familij  Hirundinin^. 

Bill  triangular,  very  short  and  broad,  mucli  depressed ;  the  ridge  nmeh  less  than 
half  the  head;  the  gonj-s  two-thirds  tliis  length;  the  gajie  extending  to  below  the 
eve;  primaries  nine;  the  tirst  longest,  and,  with  the  second,  considerably  longer 
than  the  others;  the  seioiularies  and  tertials  not  rcaehing  the  middle  of  the  prima- 
ries; the  secondaries  deeply  emarginate;  wings  very  long,  reaching  beyond  the 
commencement  of  the  fork  of  the  tail,  which  is  generally  more  oi  less  deep;  tarsi 
scutellate,  very  short,  less  tliuu  the  lateral  toes,  the  inner  of  Avhich  is  more  deejilv 
cleft  than  the  outer. 

HIRUNDO,  LiNN.Eus. 

Hinmdo,  Linnm-us,  Syst.  Nat.  (1735).     Gray,  Genera,  I.  (1845). 

Nostrils  basal,  small,  oblong,  and  covered  partly  by  a  membrane;  tail  more  or 
less  forked;  the  outer  lateral  feather  sometimes  greatly  lengthened;  tarsi  shorter 
than  the  middle  toe,  and  scufcllated;  tarsi  naked;  toes  long,  slender,  the  lateral  ones 
unequal;  claws  moderate,  curved,  acute. 


HIEUNDO  HOEREORUM,— /?arton. 

The  Barn  Swallow. 

nirmulo  horreorum,  Rarton.     Fragments  N.  II.  I'enna.  (1799)  17. 
Ilinuuh  Aimricaim,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  V.  (1S12)  .34. 
Uimndo  rusdca,  Audubon.    Crn.  IJiog.,  II.  (1834)  413. 

DESCKii-noN. 

Tail  ver\-  deeply  forked;  outer  feathers  several  indies  longer  than  the  inner,  verv 
narrow  towards  the  end;  above  glossy-blue,  with  conceak-d  white  in  the  middle  of 
the  back;  throat  chestnut;  rest  of  lower  part  reddish-white,  not  conspicuouslv  dif- 
ferent; a  steel-blue  collar  on  the  ii|')ier  part  of  the  breast,  interruiited  in  I  he  middle: 
tail  feathers  with  a  while  sjnit  near  the  middle,  on  tlie  inner  web.  I'linale  ^^illl  the 
outer  tail  feather  not  (piite  so  long. 

Length,  six  and  ninety  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  live  inches;  tail,  four  and 
lifty  one  hundredths  inches. 

THIS  beautiful  and  well-known  bird  arrives  in  New 
England  from  about  the  l<Hh  of  April  to  the  2i')t]\  of 
that  month,  aecording  to  latitude :  it  is  quickly  dispensed  in 
great  numbers  through  these  States,  and  soon  commencos 
mating.     Its  habits  are  so  well  known  that  any  description 


THE  BARN   SWALLOW. 


265 


here  ,s  hardly  needed.     About  the  10th  of  May  afto.  fi 
-•dH  have  paired,  they  commenee  building    oT^omeL 

tl.e  same  eouple  begin  repairing  the  nest  0/ tho 

year  or  years,  as  ihe  same  ne.^t  '"  ^'''''"^'''^ 

IS  occupied  several  seasons.    It  is 

built  in  the  eaves  of  houses  or 

barns,  or  on  rafters  of  barns  and 

other  buildings.   It  is  constructed '- 

outwardly  of  a  stnmg  shell  of  ^- 

pellets  of  mud,  which  are  plas-    ' 

terod  together,  and,  as  Nnttall, 

says,  "tempered  with  fine  hay, 

and  rendered  more  adhesive  by  ^^^-^^^ 

the  glntinous  saliva  of  tlie  bi.-rl  "     ti  • 

^nd  up  until  the  ton  is  about  1  .?"  "''*  ^^'^  ^^'"'^*  «"* 

a  layer  of  Hne  gl     0I  h        T'f '^'  '"^  ^''^'^  ^"^«^  '^'^'^ 

^^atiLs.  Tid:t;ri:;;;7;r::^u;~^'^''^^^^^ 

t^venty  nests  being  in  the  same  ave's  Tl  '"'""'  "' 
-"fy  four  in  number,  somethneX ..  tl^ro?" 
nearly  nnre-wh  to  fHilnp   ,..ui         i-  ,  ^  ^^^  ^t  a 

.spo.tod\„„,.         „:,;''",;';?''' ■-»'"  t".t;  and  are 

collected  iu  UMt.,n    Me     1    .  °;'"7'.'"»"-' »' f"'"' ogg», 

'-".  ii.  n  groat  mnnl.er,  >.,  ^78  l^  37  ine        1'°°      T"" 
■i)~  bv  .50  iiM-l,      T„.„  1  ^,  '  "'»  smallest. 

™.  J  in"i,r:L„  "°T  ;:ti„d''  /rt'r-^ "'--' "- 

Jays.  '        ''  °'  ""^"''atioii  is  tliuteoj. 

ALoi.t  the  f.rst  week  in  .Ser.teniher   the  nl,l        , 
;;'»  "f  .ii«cre„t  fatnilies  gatller  i,r'i;,       „    •„:  ^r'-'lf 
alter  retnannng  al,o„t  the  marshes  near  the  J^^t  Z 
few  days,  they  leave  for  their  winter  h„n,e,     T 
.l.at  any  are  .ee„  after  8ept.  15t„  in  Nri^:,,.';,;:  '^'''""' 


i// 


mem 


i  .     8 


256  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


HIEUNDO   LUNIFEONS.  —  Say. 
The  Cliff  Swallow ;  Eave  Swallow. 

nivundo  Imifrom,  Say.    Long's  Exiieil.  II.  Mt8.,  II.  (1823)  47. 
Illrumh  respublicann,  Audubon.    Ann.  N.Y.  Lye,  I.  (1824)  104. 
nil-undo  fulvn,  Audubon.     Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1831)  353. 
JJirundu  melamiyankr,  Swainson.     I'hilos.  Mag.,  I.  (1827)  366. 
Pttrochdidm  melanoyastra,  Cubanis.    Mus.  Hein.,  47. 

Description. 

Crown  and  back  steel-bluo;  the  upper  part  of  the  latter  with  concealed  pale 
edges  to  the  feathers;  chin,  tliroat,  and  sides  of  the  lioad  dark-chestnut;  breast 
fuscous;  belly  white;  a  steel-blue  spot  on  throat;  rump  light-chestnut;  forehead 
brownish-white;  a  pale  nuchal  band;  tail  slightly  eniarginate. 

Length,  about  five  inches;  wing,  four  and  forty  one-hundredths;  tail,  two  and 
twenty  one-hundredtlis. 

//((6.  —North  America  from  Atlantic  to  racific. 

The  Cliff  Swallow  is  very  generally  distributed  as  a  sum- 
mer inhabitant  of  New  England.  It  arrives  iVom  the  South 
from  about  the  25th  of  Ai)ril  to  the  1st  of  May.  It  has  all 
the  habits  and  characteristics  of  the  preceding  species,  aiul 
is  probably  as  well  known  throughout  New  England  as  that 
bird.  About  the  10th  of  May  (sometimes  earlier,  sometimes 
later,  according  to  latitude),  it  jjairs,  and  commences  build- 
ing. The  nest  is  usually  fixed  beneath  eaves  or  cornices, 
or  other  jutting  portions  of  buildings,  or  on  cliffs,  beneatli 
overhanging  portions  of  rock :  it  is  constructed  externally 
of  pellets  of  mud  and  earth,  which  are  gradually  plastered 
together  into  a  large  gourd-shaped  structure ;  the  larger  part 
attached  to  the  building  or  cliff,  and  the  neck  curving  out- 
ward and  downward.  At  the  part  of  the  nest  resembling 
the  neck  of  the  gourd  is  the  entrance.  The  whole  fabric  is 
much  more  brittle  than  the  nest  of  the  Barn  Swallow,  for  the 
reason  that  no  grass  or  hay  is  worked  into  the  mud  to  give 
it  strength.  A  lining  of  fine  grass  and  feathers  is  fixed  in 
this,  and  the  whole  makes  a  very  neat  and  comfortable 
structure.  The  eggs  are  usually  live  in  number.  Tlioy 
can  ha'rdly  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the   preceding 


tit 


THE  WHITE-BELLIED   SWALLOW.  ^  gST 

coarser,  and  the  eggs  are  /onornU  ,  "^  ""'  ''°"'<">'l"'t 
coUeCod  in  BorColL,  jlafs  a  o  L  «"'"•  ''°'"-  ''«8'' 
sioi.8  of  .84  by  .54  inc ,  •„,,','  "'"  "■"""'SO  dimen- 

localities,  are  about  «ds  'size         '"'"""'""'  '■'■°"'  ™™^ 

floetsV'lf  ;  'nl'r:;,;;''^  ^P-^-  sat,.,  into  ,argo 
localities,  bnt  not  t  "e  Ze  tT'  ""  *°''™""'  '""  -"° 
week  or  ten  days  before  Lo  Set  S."  "  '""^^^  "^^"^  " 

HIEOBDO  BICOLOE._n„„„, 
The  Wbi«.b.,„.,  s..„„,  3,„..,„^,^  ^^^^^^ 
Uirundo  bicolor  VJoiiUt     n- 


color, 


Kkscriptiox. 


Tliis  very  common  and  well-lf„„, 

iiiliabitant  of  all  Nevv  En  Jit  ,,7"  ''^'"""'  '^  "  «™nmer 
localities  near  sboets  of  wa,      '   ,d  "Z"  "'"'  ''^""'''""  »' 
:;'T<"^t™ts.    Its  babits  a,;we,rkn::Td"°" '"  '"^•'' 
■t  Joes,  early  i„  ,be  season,  and  f  ate  °T   '         f'""'*'  "' 
a  great  favo.ile.    It  make,  it,  ''*"-"">^'"S  wUh  man,  it  is 
'i«t  week  in  April,  but  do     Z  r°"™"'°  "''  "»'■'>'  "»  «'» 
tl.c  middle  of  Ma;.     N  a-  cmes"Tr°  """''""«  '"'"'■'> 
'""1'  i"  ™artin-b„.xes  p^vide     L  "ts        'V'"  ""''  « 
less  thiekly  settled  dis triets  i    i.       ■!  .'™<'1"'°"--  1-"'.  in 
a..d  trees;  and  cases  ar    o'c.d  :'",""'" ,'"  ^'""'l'^ 
c-rtod  nest  of  tbe  connnon  Ba,   's:  ,  V";!^"""'  ".'  » 
.■oogl.  tbo  chain  of  tbe  Un.bag  g  lal;,     ,f 'l,"""'"? 
ol«erved  great  numbers  of  these  bink  tl  ""'  ^ 

l»"it  in  holes  in  dead  trees  1.    ,  '""^  """"'  «■■<> 

»l.o-.    These  nos^^t:;" sV     n^^;:/";  '"^  »-  '"o 

u  pitiity,  that,  111  the  area  of 
1/ 


if:'! 


ii';fl 


258 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


about  ten  rods  sqiiare,  I  counted  over  fifty.  Of  course,  the 
birds  were  in  myriads,  and  the  species  constitutes  the  com- 
mon Swallow  of  the  districts  in  that  latitude.  The  materials 
u'sed  in  the  construction  of  the  nest  are  fine  grasses,  hay, 
and  feathers :  these  are  adjusted  loosely  in  the  cavity  of  the 
tree,  and  without  any  form.  The  eggs  are,  most  commonly, 
five  in  number.  Their  color  is  a  beautiful  clear-white,  with 
a  roseate  tint  before  their  contents  are  removed :  they  are 
extremely  thin  and  fragile,  much  more  so  than  most  of  the 
other  species  ;  and  their  form  is  a  slender  oval.  Of  a  great 
number  of  specimens,  collected  in  various  localities,  the 
largest  is  .79  by  .56  inch ;  the  smallest,  .69  by  .51  inch. 
Two  broods  arc  generally  reared  in  the  season,  and  the 
period  of  incubation  is  fourteen  days. 

This  species  leaves  New  England  in  the  fall  migration 
about  the  10th  of  September. 


COTYLE,  BoiE. 

Cotijle,  BoiE,  Isis  (1822),  550.     (Tj^ie  77.  riparia.) 

Bill  very  flat,  extremely  broad  at  the  base,  and  gradually  narrowed  towards 
the  tip;  nostrils  prominent  and  rounded:  tail  moderate,  nearly  straiyht,  or  some- 
what emarginated;  tarsi  rather  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  slender  i\nd  scutellated; 
toes  very  slender,  the  claws  slightly  curved ;  colors  generally  dull  brown  above, 
without  gloss. 

COTYLE   EIPAEIA.  — 5o!e. 

The  Bank  Swallow. 


Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  V.  4C. 


TTtrundo  riparia,  LinnsBus.    Sj'st.  Nat.,  I.  (1766)  344. 
And.  Om.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  584. 

Cotyle  riparia,  Boie.    Isis  (1822),  550. 

Descriition. 

The  smallest  of  American  swallows;  tail  slightly  cmarginate;  outer  web  of  first 
primary  soft,  without  hooks;  lower  piirt  of  the  tarsus  with  a  few  scattered  featliers; 
above  grayish-brown,  somewhat  fuliginous,  witli  a  tendency  to  paler  margins  to  tlic 
feathers ;  beneath  pure-white,  with  a  band  across  the  breast  and  sides  of  the  body 
like  the  back. 

Length,  four  and  seventy-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  four;  tail,  two 
inches. 


THE  BANK  SWALLOW. 


269 


->M...H,„„d  or,„a„      ;X"^™'  "''  "P^ios  avoid,  „,e 
«l.oc.s  of  water      It        d    !     TT     '" '""-'"^  "'  o.l.or 

vcy  abundant.    It'a   toj     !'  rn,  '"  T''  '»«»''"-  « 
«"li».-i  .-..Hi  soon  ,,„i,./ ", ,  "'°  '™°''  '"  *I"^  »fto» 

ccavating.  for  tl.olSt     't    ""°"™'  '"""'"»"'  "'^  ■■»"- 
s.ind-l«ink.s,  in  tl,o  simf.  ,'„n  «-™»'"ioiis  arc  made  in 

«."i  ».■„  often  t,,;::  ■  ,';"?:r-"'°r f  ""=  '^"'e"»''" 

oisLtoon  incl,os.     At  tl  o     nd  !f""„     ",  ''  "■""'■'"^  """"t 
widened  and  enlar.red    i,  „        ,     ,        '""™"''  "liicli  is 
d.-iocl  grasses,  i,ay  fc  tl,   .,'^^    .!''"  ™^''  """l"^-"!  of 
The  birds  aro'socllue    :;!',;'  "  '"-  »"  ™»'orials. 
"Pocies ;   and  often  a,  ,na  ?       .     '  ■""  ""  ""  ""=  ""'or 
■'■•^>-  ^"  -0,.  in  tl,o      „r  ank     tT'^  """  ""'''^  "»'- 
eiti.er  five  or  fonr.    Tl   so  a  o  „f         """*"■■  "''  "t'^s  '« 
™.7  but  little  in  si^o  o    sll„     ,!  "rr"""  '^^'"'  •■"'" 
"l>va,-s  oval,  and  the  si™  .  ,!        ^      ''"°''  '*"«  "'most 
•«8  "7  .49  Inch.     Us  al  ;  u^"f  "■•;'"  '^  V  -52  ineb  to 
»c»s„n,  but  often  onlyo'Ie  '^'  °''°  ^^^  "'  «'o 

-fio'ste'ts  tr":::^=v''° ""°"  ^''""°-'  "■"  >' 

«!--  %'i.ting:  its  note"; "V  ;,?:7:  ".»"-'?  '-  °f  'I- 
'opeated,  but  is  only  a  seldom  ,'.  ,,'°'™'  ''"'"'  »'"'  »" 
'»cs  New  England^  .hfCrMn'll^St:''""'-'    ^' 


PROGXE,  BoiE. 

Progne,  Riok,  r.,i.,  (ig26)   971      cv 

liili,  strong,  .short;   ,he  ipo  l-erl     "m       T*  ^"'^"'^'''  ^'•) 
-.linen  and  Iaf.,,1  ,„„rgin«  ard.o  1  tn h  '  /       ?''"'  ^"•'^''"""-^  ^''mpros..ecl    the 


1  li'l  .   fiS! 


260  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


PE0G5E   PURPUHEA.  —  Dnie. 

The  Purple  Martin. 

nirmuh  purpurea,  Linnicus.  Syat.  Nat.,  L  (1700)  344.  Aud.  Cm.  BioR.,  I. 
(1831)  115. 

Proyne purpurea,  Boie.    Isis  (1820),  071. 

DESCBIPTtON. 

Largest  of  North-Amcricnn  Swallows;  closed  winRs  rather  longer  tlinn  the 
deeply  forked  tail ;  tarsi  and  toes  naked ;  color,  in  the  old  male,  everywhere  j,'lossy 
gteel-i)lue,  with  puriile  and  violet  reflections.  Female  and  innnaliire  male  less 
brilliant  above,  pale-brownish  beneath,  blotched  with  darker  or  witli  bluish. 

Length,  seven  and  thirty  one-hnndredlhs  inches;  winf,',  live  and  eihdity-iivo 
one-hundredths;  tail,  three  and  forty  one-hundredths  inches. 

The  Purplo  Martin  is  the  least  ahundant  of  aU  our 
Swallows,  and,  indeed,  in  some  localities  is  quite  rare. 
It  arrives  from  the  South  about  the  first  week  in  May, 
and  is  distributed  in  single  pairs  through  all  New  Eng- 
land. 

The  description,  by  Wilson,  of  the  habits  of  the  l)ird,  is 
so  well  written  that  1  present  (luite  a  liberal  extract  from  it. 
He  says, — 

"Tlie  summer  rosidoiico  of  this  ajrrooablo  bird  is  universally 
among  the  habitations  of  man,  wlio,  liaving  no  int(M-est  in  liis 
destruction,  and  deriving  ponsidorablo  advant.agc  as  well  as  amuse- 
ment from  liis  company,  is  generally  his  friend  and  protector. 
Wherever  he  comes,  he  finds  some  hosi)itablc  retreat  fitted  up  for 
his  accommodation  and  that  of  his  young,  either  in  the  projecting 
wooden  cornice,  on  the  top  of  the  roof  or  sign-post,  in  the  box 
appropriated  to  the  Blue-bird,  or,  if  all  these  be  wanting,  in  tlie 
»l()V(»-liouse  among  the  pigeons.  In  this  last  case,  he  sometimes 
takes  possession  of  one  quarter  or  tier  of  the  premises,  in  which 
not  a  pigeon  dare  for  a  moment  set  its  foot.  Some  i)eople  have 
large  conveniences  formed  for  the  INIartins,  with  many  apartments, 
which  are  usually  full  tenanted,  and  occupied  regularly  every 
spring ;  and,  in  such  places,  particular  individuals  have  been  noted 
to  return  to  the  same  box  for  several  successive  years.  Even  the 
solitary  Indian  seems  to  have  a  particular  respect  for  this  bird. 


Ifl' 

11' 


TIIK   PUttPLK   MARTIN. 


261 


.ippi,  tl,e  nogroc,  .tick  „,,  !„„„  ,,„„,,  „.,.     """  "'  ""^  «'«•"- 

ite  bird.  l'o.l.il.li.y  o(  ,1,,,  ,„l„.l,i„„„.  to  tl.i,  &„,,- 

"About  (lie  middle  or  9nH.  ,.p  a     -i    .      , 

I-I-e  their  .o«t  1  .f t:  ,f 'tli t  "^  ^T'^r  "'"  '"^'"  ^" 
ibnned  of  d.^  loaves  of  th  1  ,.  :  ,::;"'^  ^ -"-"-'  -- 
and  feathers  in  con.si.ler.l.le  o„.  i  C  *'  '  '  '"'""'  ^"^' 
«"mll  for  the  size  of  the  bird    u  1  !"  •  ''^"  ''"■'  *"'"''  ^'^"'y 

T..>..  brood,, pears  Lt;;;i:rdi;:r!;:;r^^^^^^ 

When  the  femi  '        ''"'"  ""^  ^'•"''^-  P-^  "f  the  day. 

who  also  oecu,ie:^::x i;:.  '■:ii:;:;^.:^''t  '^  ^"^  ""^''' 

abroad.     He  also  often   nas.,.«  '''  '''"'"^  ^'^^--''eation 

nK.nt  beside  her   and  is    e  '"""S"'  "'  ""  ^""''  '"  ^''^'  ^I'-^- 

finenu-nt.      1^'^^^''''':  [''"'^/^--ticated  since  her  eon- 

piun..,o,ooeasio:;;^;^  J  ;'r::  t:fir  --'^'"^  ^-i^ 

to  i'Hjnire  how  she  does      H;«  '"  '^I"^''f'"^'"t.  "s  if 

assunLlapeonI       s^:;, 'tdT      '  ''  l'"^  ''"''  ^^'^"^  ^"  "^^ 

'-  together,  seen,  to  b^ii-fl^i ;;.:::;.:  '^i;  j^^-/^  r  "•■'"- 

tl.e  2.Hh  of  xAIay,  a  male  and  fomi  M  i  V  V  "'  "  """ 
"ox  in  Mr.  I^artram's  garden.  A  a^o  t^  T"^^'""  "'  '^ 
<''"'"lo  made  her  a,.,K.aram.e  andsMv.llf  two  after,  a  second 
t''«  ''ol.l  reception   she        •  'u  '  "  ''""'"^  '''^^''^ '  ^»»^  ^'•»'» 

■"--'.e  nna!ir;;;>:l::d\ :  ;l^'i  :r  :;^^ 

fbr  a  nu,re  sociable  co,n,,anion.  '  ""  '^""''''  ^"  ^'"'^''^ 

"The  Purple  Martin,  like  his  half-cousin  the  Ivin..-bird   is  t] 
terror  of  crows,  hawks,  and  eu-rles      Th        i       '"^'"f  ^"•''  '^  the 
tl.cv  .n..L-,>  fi.  •  '"  ^"'''^'  "«  attacks  whenever 

"» '-,. ......  „,.t,  to .,.  „o..3ti:  po,,,':;;::;:::::::  „:':,:; 


'  <!l 


wipr 


t 


262 


ORNITHOLOOY  AND   OOLOOY. 


hear  the  Martin's  voice  engaged  in  fight,  all  is  alarm  and  conster- 
nation. To  observe  with  what  8[)irit  and  audacity  this  bird  dives 
and  sweeps  upon  and  around  the  Ilawk  or  the  Kaglo  is  astonish- 
ing. Ho  also  lu'Htovvs  an  occasional  bastinadiiig  on  tho  King-bird 
when  ho  finds  liiiu  too  near  his  premises ;  though  ho  will,  at  any 
time,  instantly  co-operate  with  him  in  attacking  tho  common 
enemy. 

"  The  INIartin  differs  from  all  the  rest  of  our  Swallows  in  tho 
particular  prey  which  he  selects.  Wasps,  bees,  large  beetles,  par- 
ticularly those  called  by  tho  boys  goldsmiths,  seem  his  favorite 
game.  I  have  taken  four  of  these  large  beetles  from  the  stomach 
of  a  Purple  Martin,  each  of  which  seemed  entire,  and  even 
unbruised. 

"  The  flight  of  the  Purjjle  ]Martin  unites  in  it  all  the  swiftness, 
ease,  rapidity  of  turning,  and  gracefulness  of  motion  of  its  tribe. 
Like  the  Swift  of  Europe,  he  sails  much  with  little  action  of  the 
wings.  lie  passes  through  tho  most  crowded  parts  of  our  streets, 
eluding  the  passengers  with  the  quickness  of  thought ;  or  plays 
among  the  clouds,  gli<ling  about  at  a  vast  height,  like  an  aerial 
being.  His  usual  note,  peuo,  peuo,  peuo,  is  loud  and  musical ; 
but  is  frecjuently  succeeded  by  others  njore  low  and  guttural. 
Soon  after  the  20th  of  vVugust,  ho  leaves  Pennsylvania  for  the 
South." 


In  New  England,  this  spocics  begins  to  prcptire  its  nest 
about  the  10th  of  Mixy :  this  is  conii)osed  of  dried  grasses, 
leaves,  and  feathers,  and  is  deposited  nsiutlly  in  a  box  pre- 
pared for  this  ])urpose.  The  eggs  are  from  four  to  six  in 
number,  of  a  pure-white  eolor,  and  vary  but  little  in  form 
from  exaetly  oval.  Four  specimens,  collected  in  Connecti- 
cut, exhibit  the  following  measurements:  1.04  by  .70  incli, 
1  by  .70  inch,  1  by  .08  inch,  .97  by  .08  inch.  Other  speci- 
mens vary  but  little  from  these  dimensions.  Two  broods 
are  often  reared  in  the  season,  and  the  period  of  incubation 
is  fourteen  days. 

In  dismissing  this  family,  it  is  hardly  necessary,  at  tliis 
late  day,  to  say  a  word  in  favor  of  their  benelicial  habits ; 


^'■f 


THE   PURPLE   MARTIN. 


263 


for  ovory  fanner  has   recognized   them,  and   onco„ra.red 

ho  prcsenco  of  the  birds,  a.id  protected  them  for  years  • 

mt  the  munense  an.ount  of  injurio.is  and  noxions  insects' 

they  destroy  is  astoiiishing,  and  hardly  realized ;  aniou.it- 

mg  probably  to   several   Imndreds   by  every  bird  in   the 


I  irn  -I  I-  flBS 


Ift. 


264 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  BOMBYCILLIDiE.    The  CuATTEREns. 

Prinmrios  ten,  thii  first  very  Bliort  or  niodoruto,  always  1cm  than  half  the  second ; 
hill  short,  hrond,  trinnKnIiir,  nuii'h  depressed ;  ^rupo  opeiihiK  neiirly  to  the  eyes, 
twieo  the  length  of  the  iiihiieri;  hotli  nmiidihles  iiiiteheil,  the  upper  with  a  tooth 
liehiiid  the  iioleh;  tiirsi  .sciilelhite  anteriorly,  with  iiidieations  also  of  sraies  inferiiiriy 
on  tile  Ni.leH  (except  in  MiiimUsUaf),  shorter  than  tiio  niiddlu  too;  outer  lateral  toe 
longest;  toes  unequally  cleft ;  head  generally  crested. 

Snh-Fnmily  BoMnrciLMNiE. — The  Wax  Winys. 

AMI'ELIS,  LiNN.KUs.' 

Ampelis,  Linn.ws,  Syst.  Nat.  (1735).    (Type  A.  ijnvrnlm.) 

Head  with  a  broad,  depressed  crest;  bill  verj-  broad,  oiieiiiiif;  nearly  to  the  eye; 
a  scries  of  short,  velvety  f.'atliers  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  with  bristles  diree'ed  tor- 
wards  and  covering  the  nostrils,  but  none  ahmg  the  rictus;  eonnnissure  straight; 
culnien  and  gonys  curved,  convex;  both  nuindililes  notched  at  tip;  legs  stout;  tarsi 
shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  Hcuteliate  anteriorly,  and  slightly  on  the  lower  half  on 
the  sides  behind,  slightly  feathered  above;  hind  toe  shorter  than  the  lateral,  which 
are  equal;  wings  very  long,  pointed,  reaching  almost  to  the  tip  of  the  nearly  even 
tail;  first  primary  so  short  as  to  be  with  ditliculty  discernible,  the  second  quill 
longest;  tips  of  secondary  quills  with  horny  appendages,  like  sealing-wax. 


AMPZLIS   GABRULUS.  — /.;«««««. 

The  Wax-wing ;  Bohemian  Chatterer. 

"  Lanius  garrulm,  Linna'us.     Fauna  Snccica,  11.  No.  S2." 
Ampelis  (jarmlus,  Linna'US.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  297. 
BoinbyciUa  garrula.    And.  Orn.  Hiog.,  IV.  (1B38)  402. 

DKsrUIPTION. 

Highly  crested;  general  color  brownish-ash,  with  a  faint  shade  of  reddish, 
especially  anterifirly;  the  forehead,  sides  of  the  bead,  and  luider  tail  coverts,  brown- 
ish-orange; the  binder  parts  jiurer  ash;  the  region  alwmt  the  vent  white;  lainiarics 
and  tail  feathers  plumbeous  black,  especially  towanls  the  tips;  the  tail  with  a  ter- 
minal h^ivX  of  yellow;  a  narrow  frontal  line  passing  backward  and  involving  the 
eye,  and  extending  above  and  behind  it;  chin  and  ui)per  part  of  throat  black;  tips 
of  the  secondary  coverts,  and  a  spot  on  the  end  of  the  outer  webs  of  all  the  ([uijls, 
•white;  those  on  the  inner  iirimaries  glossed  with  yellow;  secondaries  with  red,  horny 
tips,  like  sealing-wax ;  side  of  the  lower  jaw  whitish. 

Length,  seven  and  forty  one-hundrcdths  inches;  wing,  four  and  fifty  one-hun- 
dredtlis  inches;  tail,  three  inches. 


¥  ■■' 


THK   CEDAR-niRD.  ^^, 

i"  ^^'-.'vrs  of  C0.1.U-S  'm  V  "'■'''  ".dividual^,  usually 

-'^inont.     I  am  uaac,uain^  :r rV7^^''^''«  «^"  ^'"0 
eggs.  ^    "''^  '^'^'^  ^l«  Imbits,  uost,  or 

AMPELIS  CEDHOBOM. -/;„/,,,. 

TheCodar-bird;  Cherry-bird. 

Amjielis  unrrulug,  Linnirus      *iv.f   v  .     , 

'  '"le  above  .  .,„  „.„  ,„,  „,  ,„^.  ,,„  '         '  r^mu,  .,„...,.  ,,..,,.,  „„  .,,,  .nd 

"-  .  ';-K-.u..l  ui,h  hoary,  „  .,„„,  „„.'.,,,''  ""^  •'^"""^'■'■^-  — I't  .lu. 
I".sU.nor.,uart..rortlu.  ,,v,whi..,  s..  n.^Sl """'""  ""'""^  ""  •""  ''"-- 

March.     About    ll  mi     I  '.^M ,'"  T  Z  "™"''  "'^^"'^  "' 


il 


!R       i'S 


,'i   '•  1 


Iw^    ittj 


mm 


.  n 


266 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


hower  tl>.'.,  Cfdar-bii-d. 
Upper  fig.,  Ked-cyed  Vireo. 


branch,  generally  of  a  tree  in  the  orchard ;  sometimes  in  a 
cedar  or  other  tree  in  a  pasture  or  wood.  It  is  con- 
structed of  stalks  of  weeds,  lono-  fine  roots,  grass,  grape- 
vine bark,  and  leaves :  it  is 
deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with 
fine  roots,  horsehairs,  and  fine 
grass.  One  specimen  in  my  col- 
lection is  i  artly  composed  of 
strips  of  twine  and  thread, 
which  are  woven  together  in  a 
very  neat  and  compact  man- 
ner, and  interlaced  with  nu- 
merous fine  roots  and  weeds. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four  or 
five  in  number:  they  are  laid 
about  the  first  week  in  June, 
and  a  second  litter  often  in  Au- 
gust. They  are  of  a  light-bluish 
or  clay-white  color,  with  a  sliglit  purple  tint,  and  are  marked, 
more  or  less  thickly,  with  distinct  spots  of  black,  and  more 
obscure  spots  of  purplish-brown :  the  appearance  of  these 
latter  spots  is  as  if  tliey  were  "beneath  the  surface  of 
the  shell."  Dimensions  of  five  eggs  collected  in  New 
Hampshire:  .80  by  .04  inch,  .80  by  .03  inch,  .80  by  .00 
inch,  .80  by  ,02  inch,  .80  by  .00  inch.  A  great  number  of 
specimens  from  ditferent  localities  do  not  exhibit  any  great 
variations  from  tliese  measurements. 

There  is  a  great  deal  of  ill  feeling  manifested  towards 
this  well-known  bird  by  the  fiirmcrs,  on  account  of  its  occa- 
sionally helping  itself  to  a  few  cherries  or  other  small  fruits. 
Its  valuable  services  in  the  orchard  and  nursery  seem  to  bo 
overlooked,  and  its  life  is  often  forfeited  for  this  little  weak- 
ness. But  if  the  farmer  will  observe  it  in  its  insect-destroy- 
ing labors,  watch  it  as  it  devours  caterpillar  after  caterpillar, 
or  draws  from  its  lurking-[)lace  the  larva  of  some  injurious 
insect,  he  will  come  to  the  conclusion,  as  many  have  already 


THE   CEDAR-BIRD. 


267 


Says  Nuttall,  in  speaking  of  this  fact,- 

trees  of  more  deadly  enemies  Tvl.M       f         T''''  '"  "'^^^'"^  ^"'^ 
caterpillars,  beetles    a.ur  vn  "  '      '''''"'  ""'^  ^'^^  «"^^" 

foo.1  and  or  hi;  "  ^  "?  '""^^  "^^  --^'^"^e  their  only 
despoiling  cank  r  v^;l:  '"l f  T  "'^^^  '^^  «-"  ^-^^-S  on  the  ail- 
On  these  occasions  si  Z' and  1  f"  ""■  '''''''-'''''''  '"^d  «^"- 
^it  dressing  tl^^^^  ^  r;:^^^^^ '"^  ^f ".,  «^^ 
the  number  of  five  or  six  •  and  ^  '  ''""'  ''''^"^h'  *» 

rnent  approaehes;ti:y  mLy  he  1    ^rT  •  '  ^^'"'^'^  ^"^^^- 

earned  so  far,  that  an  eye-witness  assures  m     h    T^^',,   "^  '' 
aniontr  a  row  of  tlipsp  W,i-A^  .    *   i  ^^^"  one 

insect!  and  „fe  i    ^1,1    t        .     T"  "  ''™'*  *"  »""  «" 

^^'as  appropriated."  ^oiwaius  before  it 

Tho  note  of  the  Codar-bird,  liko  that  of  tl,o  Wax-win<r  is 


I  If 


fjl.         i 


^f' 

w 

!T^j 

i-i  :i  -.,  ■ 

ih. 

Jiill 

• 

j^imsmh--. 

■  1  '  * 


P!l  Hi 


268 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  LANIIDiE. 

Bill  strong  and  compressed,  the  tip  abruptly  liooked;  both  mandibles  distinctly 
notched,  the  upper  witli  a  distinct  tooth  behind,  tl;e  lower  with  the  point  bent  up"; 
tarsi  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  strongly  scutellate;  primaries  ten;  first  priuuiry 
half  the  second,  or  shorter  (occasionally  wanting). 

The  sub-families  of  Laniklie  belonging  to  the  United  States  arc  as  follows:  — 

Laniin.].:.  —  Hill  very  powerful,  much  compressed,  and  abruptly  hooked,  with  a 
very  prominent  tooth  behind  tlie  notch;  wings  considerably  rounded;  tail  rather 
long  and  graduated;  sides  of  the  tarsi  scutellate  behind. 

VniKoxiN.E.  —  Bill  modt.-ate,  cylindrical,  somewluit  compressed ;  wings  long,  the 
first  primary  sometimes  wanting;  tail  short  and  nearly  even ;  sides  of  the  tarsi  behind 
not  scutellate. 

Sub-Family  Laniin.e.  —  The  Shrikes. 
COLLYRIO,  MoKiiHiNG. 

CoUyrio,  JIoEUnixo,  Genera  Avium  (1752),  28.    (Type  Lanius  excubitor,  L.) 
Lanius,  of  Authors. 

Feathers  of  forehead  stiffened;  base  of  bill,  including  nostrils,  covered  by  bristlv 
feathers  directed  forward;  bill  shorter  than  the  head,  much  compressed,  and  ver'v 
powerful;  culmen  decurved  from  base,  the  mandible  abrui.tlv  bent  down  in  a  power- 
ful hook,  what  in  acute  lobe  near  the  tip;  tip  of  lower  manclible  bent  upwards  m  a 
hook;  the  gonys  very  convex;  rictus  with  long  bristles;  legs  stout;  the  tarsi  are 
rather  short,  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  the  lateral  equal;  the  claws  all  verv  sharp 
and  much  curved;  wings  rounded;  the  first  primary  about  half  the  second,  whieh  is 
equal  to  the  sixth  or  seventh;  tail  longer  than  the  wings,  much  graduated,  the 
feathers  broad. 

COLLYEIO   BOKEALIS.  — i?am?. 
The  Great  Northern  Shrike ;  Butcher-bird. 


Syn.  (isrs),  72.     Bon.  List  (1838).     Nutt. 


Lanius  seiikntrioimlis,  Bonaparte. 
Man.,  L  (18.32)  258. 

Lanius  hirea/is,  Audubon.     Syn.  (1839),  157. 

Lanius  excubitor.    Wils.,  L  (1808)  74.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (1831)  534. 

I)E.sri{nTioN. 
Above  light  l»luish-ash,  obscurely  soiled  with  reddish-brown;  forehead,  sidex  „f 
the  crown,  scapulars,  and  upper  tail  coverts  hoary-white;  beneath  white,  the  breast 
with  fine  transver.'^e  lines;  wings  and  tail  black,  the  former  with  a  while  imtcli  at 
base  of  primaries  and  tips  of  small  quills,  the  latter  with  the  lateral  feathers  tipprd 
with  white;  bill  blackish-brown,  considerably  lighter  at  the  base;  bhuk  stripe  h„m 
the  bill  through  and  behind  the  eye,  but  beneath  the  latter  interrupted  bv  a  whiti.sh 
crescent.    Female  and  young  with  the  gray  soiled  with  browni.<h. 


U  IS 


ji>f<ra 


i 


w 


m 


^ 


'%. 


mil 


■m 


Nutt. 


-^r^'-' 


%. 


».-?*-'HlK>'-. 


li 


1 1  nj 

'      '1 

iii'' 

^'Ih 

H' 

ii\9  9 

K 

208 


i;i  NlTHOLOoX    ANI>   OOLOGY. 


■•1.      V.  illl      lIlO     jl,/ii;!      i,(.ii,       i 

urimari-a  tcu;  (ir.it  ]ni'\. 
.1  ■-!.•-,    ••-.  n»  folliv..  . 


«i!;raip,  cMiuarniU.  iJimewiiat  ionii)ri'.~:-Li[i  wiiips  hvn,  ■:)• 


ya/iiili/  LxiaimM. —  7'/u 
COLLYRIO,  MoKttni.Nu. 

'.v%.'  I.',  Al..ii:rr*rxo,  Genera  Avium  (1762'  "         '  yj^.  J.aiuus  «'c"6ifor, 
Lanius,  of  AuTl lulls. 

-sof  forchoailsisfT.i.pd;  baaocrt"  bill,  iiiduding  nostrilK,  eori.     '  ' 


'/ai  Hortharn  Shrike;  BuicbeiNlsinl 


:h  Tf^:;;!; 


■#^ 


41 


.Ui 


1. 1  i.  1 1 


••i 


»f '*i 


THE  GREAT  NORTHERN   SHRIKE.  269 

ninot,  onc-huncl'dtl.;  -net".  "^  --""'"l-dths  inches,  its  graduation. 

rpmS  species,  altliough  i^ot  uncommon  as  a  winter  visitor 
X    n.  New  England,  is  seldom  seen  here  dnring  the  sum 

sTaLr'a  d  ;r '  ?'"'  ""* ''  ^^^^  ™'^  ^-«'«  -  «-" 

sectol  '    "^  "  '''  "'^*  "^^*'"^"  ^"^  r«t-ed 

It  makes  its  appearance  about  the  last  week  in  October 
and  IS  seen  until  the  last  week  in  May.  Dunng  this  period 
^t  preys  upon  small  birds,  mice,  and  such  insec'ts  and'wvt 

iLt  "^  "''""'  ^''""°"^'  ^"^•^  ^«  ^^--'  P^l-  of 

In  watching  for  its  prey,  it  usually  remains  perched  on  a 

ake  or  small  tree,  in  a  fiela  or  meadow,  carefully  scannin' 

the  surroundmg  neighborhood.     When  a  mouse  or  other 

small  mammal  presents  itself  in  the  grass,  the  bird  folds 

Jr  1    no    ■         '  "  ''  '"^"  '^'"^^'  «"«^^  ^^  Pine-finches 
01  Kcd-polls,  appear  in  sight,  he  immediately  pursues  them 

and  generally  secures  one  or  two  before  they  L-e  dispersed' 
I  hav^  seen  an  individual  dart  into  a  flock  of  Tree  Sparrows* 
and  kill  three  of  them  before  they  could  escape ;  and    t' 
seems  a  characteristic  of  this  bird  to  secure  more  than 
enough  food  for  its  present  wants.     Its  habit  of  suspending 
smal    birds,  mice,  and  insects  on  thorns  and  small  twi^^s 
js  well  known.     This  is  done,  I  am  inclined  to  think,  ^ot 
because,  as  many  writers  assert,  that  it  will  not  eat  its  food 
when  freshly  k.lled,  and  it  thus  suspends  it  in  order  that 
It  may  become  tainted,  but  rather  to  have  this  food  stored 
fo   future  need.     We  see  many  other  birds  with  this  same 
lubit  of  providing  for  future  wants;  particularly  the  Blue 
Jay,  and  some  of  the  Woodpeckers. 

I  have  never  met  with  the  nest  of  this  species,  and  will 
borrow  the  description  by  Audubon:- 

"About  the  20th  of  April,  the  male  and  his  mate  are  seen 


ikJ. 


'ji^mfmfm 


mm  i 


ii   !   ' 


;   '   I 


270 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY, 


llj  i  f 


engaged  iu  building  their  nest  in  the  covered  and  secluded  parts  of 
the  forests.  I  found  several  of  their  nests  iilaced  on  bushes  not 
above  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  without  any  appearance  of  choice 
as  to  the  tree,  but  generally  towards  the  top,  and  placed  in  a  fork. 
The  nest  is  as  large  as  that  of  the  Kobiii,  and  is  composed  exter- 
nally of  coarse  grasses,  leaves,  and  moss  ;  internally  of  fibrous  roots, 
over  which  is  a  bed  of  the  Ibathers  of  the  wild  turkey  and  pheas- 
ant (I'etrao  umhellus)." 

Nuttall,  ill  describing  tlic  nest,  says  tliat  it  is  "  largo  and 
compact,  ill  tlio  fork  of  a  small  tree,  and  sometimes  in  an 
apple-tree,  composed  externally  of  dried  grass,  witli  whitish 
moss,  and  well  lined  with  feathers," 

The  eggs  are  from  four  to  six  in  number,  of  a  dirty  lead- 
colored  white,  and  marked  more  or  less  thickly,  around  the 
greater  end,  with  daslies  and  spots  of  brown  of  different 
shades.  Dimensions  of  four  eggs:  1,12  by  ,80  inch,  1,12 
by  .78  inch,  1,08  by  .78  inch,  1.04  by  ,77  inch. 


Suh-Family  "N'lUKOXiNiE.  —  The    Vircos. 
VIREO,  ViKif.i.T. 

T7/W,  ViEiLLOT,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  L  (1807)  S3.    (1  '   ■ncapa  Novehoracensis 

Gm.) 

Bill  short,  strong,  straight ;  the  culmcn  slightly  curved,  th  ^  much  compressed 

to  the  tip,  which  is  rapidly  curved  and  detlectcd;  the  goiiys  lon^  iscending;  the 

gape  with  short,  wcalv  bristles;  the  nostrils  hasul,  rounded,  and  e.\,  '  the  feathers 
of  the  head  advancing  forward  on  the  hill  to  the  nostril;  wings  varia:  -athcr  long, 
and  pointed;  the  lirst  quill  sometimes  spurious,  the  larger  outer  one  al\  w  gradu- 
ated a  little;  tail  nearly  even  and  rather  short;  tarsi  longer  than  the  nu  ile  toe; 
outer  toe  a  little  longer  than  the  inner;  hind  too  rather  shorter  than  the  middle  one. 


VIREO   OLIVACEUS.  —  VhiUot. 

The  Red-eyed  Vireo. 

Musdcapa  oUvacea,  Linna;us.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1766)  327.    Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  IL 
(1810)  55. 

rireo  olivaceus,  Nuttall.    Man.,  L  (1832)  312.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  11.  (1834)  287; 
V.  430. 


|i  I 


THE   IlED-EYED   VIREO. 


271 


Di;sritii'TioN. 
^_J2^  „,out  S.X  a„a  nn,  oae-i.u„a..eaths  ineh.rwin,;.i.e;  ai^d  M,  o„e- 


I  foci  tha    no  description  of  mine  can  begin  to  do  justice 
to  the  gonial,  happy,  industrious  disposition  of  this  one  of 
our  most  common,  and  i,crhaps  best-loved  birds.     From  the 
tunc  of  its  arrival,  about  the  first  week  in  May,  until  its 
departure,  about  the  first  week  in  October,  it  is  seen  in  the 
lo  .ago  of  c Ims  and  other  shade-trees  in  the  midst  of  our 
citiesand  villages,  in  the  apple-trees  near  tlic  Airm-houscs, 
and   in  the  tall  oaks  and  cliestnuts  in  the  deep  forests. 
Lvcrywhcre  in  these  States,  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  from 
ea,  y  dawn  until  evening  twilight,  his  sweet,  half-plaintive, 
halt-meditative  carol  is  heard.     I  know  that  I  am  not  singu- 
lar in  my  jn-cference,  when  I  say,  that,  of  all  my  feathei^d 
acquaintances,  this  is  the  greatest  fiivorite  1  have.    I  always 
loved  It ;  and  I  can  never  look  upon  one,  after  it  is  killed 
no  matter  how  naturally  it  is  preserved,  without  a  sad  feel- 
ing, as  If  It  were  one  of  my  own  most  dear  friends  dead 
before  me. 

The  Red-eyed  Vireo  is  one  of  the  most  industrious  of 
our  birds.  Whenever  we  see  him,  we  notice  that  he  is 
busily  searching  in  the  foliage  of  trees  for  caterj.illars  and 
noxious  larva),  or  pursuing  winged  insects  that  have  taken 
li.gh  from  the  trees.  While  thus  engaged,  he  ^ltters  at 
short  intervals  his  warbling  song.  Tliis  consists  some- 
tunes  of  a  few  syllables  like  'tvee  cheweo  turndUt  clmvh'o 
given  in  a  singularly  sweet  tone.  This  is  only  a  part  of  its' 
«ong ;  and  tlie  whole  is  so  difficult  of  description  that  I  can- 
not put  it  on  paper. 

SaysNuttall,— 


ill 

!      *  i 


'  H 


272 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


"The  whole  is  delivered  almost  without  any  sensible  interval, 
with  earnest  animation,  in  a  pathetic,  tender,  and  pleasing  strain, 
well  calculated  to  produoo  calm  and  thoughtful  reflection  in  the 
sensitive    mind.      Yet,    while    this    heavenly    reverie    strikes    on 
the  human  ear   with  sucli  peculiar  etleet,   the    humble    nuisiciau 
himself  seems  but  little  concerned :  for  all  the  while,  perhaps,  that 
this  flowing  chorus  enchants  the  hearer,  he  is  casually  hoppiniT 
from  spray  to  spray  in  quest  of  his  active  or  crawling  prey ;  and, 
if  a  cessation  occurs  in  his  almost  untiring  lay,  it  is  occasioned  by 
the  caterpillar  or  fly  he  has  fortunately  just  captured.     So  unaf- 
fected are  these  delightful  efforts  of  instinct,  and  so  unconscious  is 
the  performer,  apparently,  of  this  j)leasiiig  faculty  bestowed  upon 
him  by  nature,  that  he  may  truly  be  consid(;red  as  a  messenger  of 
harmony    to    man    alone,  ai)pointed   by   the    flat  of  tho   Creative 
jiower.     Wantonly  to  destroy  these  delightful  aids  to  sentimental 
happiness  ought  therefore  to  be  viewed,  not  only  as  an  act  of  bar- 
barity, but  almost  as  a  sacrilege." 

The  Red-cycd  Vireo  commences  l)nilding  about  the  first 
week  in  June,  frequenting  the  woods  rather  more  commonly 
than  the  pastures  and  orchards,  although  it  often  breeds  in 
these  places.     The  nest  is  pensile,  and  is  hung  from  the 
fork  of  a  small  limb  of  a  tree,  seldom  more  than  fifteen  or 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground  :  it  is  constructed  of  thin  strips 
of  cedar  bark,  pieces  of  wasps'  nests,  spiders'  nests,  pieces  of 
caterpillars'  silk,  and  other  pliable  materials.     These  are 
'..oven   together   neatly   and   compactly,  and   agglutinated 
together  by  the  bird's  saliva.     It  is  suspended  in  the  form 
of  a  basket  from  the  forked  twig  to  which  it  is  attached,  or 
rather   sewed   firndy.     It   is  lined  Avith   narrow  strii»s  of 
grape-vine  bark,  pine  leaves,  and  sometimes  fine  grass.     On 
the  outside  are  often  visible  bits  of  rotten  wood,  fragments 
of  newsj)apers,  and  liornet's  nests.     One  specimen  in  my  col- 
lection, obtained  in  Maine,  is  constructed  almost  entirely  of 
pieces  of  the  bark  of  the  white  birch :   it  is  a  very  neat 
fabric.     The  eggs  are  four  in  number,  pure-white  in  color, 
and  thinly  spotted,  chiefly  at  the  great  end,  with  dots  of 


TIIK    WARHLIN-O    VIREO.  073 

often  roared  hi   the  scnson      ','  ,    '''"  '"''^•"''^  ^^'o 

twelve  days.  "  ''""'"^^  "'  i"c.il.ation  is 

VIEEO   OILVDS,--/?„„„^«,,,,. 
The  Warbling  Vireo. 

.IW./.,  ,(,/,,,„,  Vicillot.     OiH,I.(lS07,U5 

W/w  yih-m,  Nutfull.    I.  (18.3.>)  .,,,,,      .    ,    "        „. 

,  (1*3.)  .0..    A.UI.  Orn.  Biog,  H.  (igg^j  i,^.  ^_  ^^^3^^ 


433 


Jfascicapa  .neMla,  Wil.son.    A.n.  Orn  ,  V.  (,8J2)  85. 

nKSCIillTIo.v. 

'";"•'  "'"'  '""•'  "-k  "Shy,  the  Im.k  .liH,,lv    ,  ,  ',,     "'""  ^''-''^^''-livi    .ho 

wh.to  stmtk  .V,.,„  ,|,e  base  of  ,h.  upn,.  V        ,      "^      "'"'  "'"  ''""''  '"'•"■''  'luskv,  a 

•ho  out.r  W..I,.  ,„■  „,,  ,,i„^,,  „,  j,,i,     '"^"■^' '""'  ■^"•->'  i  "0  life'ht  nmrgins  whatever  „„ 
l.eiif,'th.  alioiit  live  and  a  h^ilC  ii,..i, ,- 

..o-ro„„i,  ,i,„  i,„.,„  „,.„„;„■';;"  •'"'•'•■■  --e.  ..o.Hv  ,i,„o.  .sp„ri„„.  p,i„„,.^ 
■''■'•I'  lor,..sl»;  „,„|    win-l  ^  ?      n     .  ''"'"  ■'"-■""   "'  "'O 

oyci vi,.o», ,.,,„„„,  i,„i,::  i, :  '  ;;:';,;■;'  "■'" "-  <^«^- 

l«'«t  tloscihotl  by  savin.,  tl  at  i.  ""     ''■'  ^'"^'"1" 

«.o  ..,v„.„„«  „f  L.  ■,.;,'"„,  '•*;,,;""-'  --^'>,  -".i^lo, 
tunes  inistakoM  the  son.r  nf  H  •    ,     i  .  '  ^  ^'''^'■^  «"'»e. 

bi.<i  in  Lis  move,„o„t/i,rth:  "'!:»;::''"'"'"'""«  '"' 

18 


fl' 


>i! 


I  ,< 


II 


I  'I 


y  •; 


■!         i  t  f 


274 


OIIMTIIOI/XJV    AND   0()LO(iY. 


Tlio  Waililinjj;  Virco  s(>(>nis  to  anivii  Ikto  in  pairs  ;  for  tlioy 
sceia  to  1)(!  matctl  wIkmi  wo  lir.st  ilincovc!'  tlicin.  NVI\ctlu.>r 
tlioir  attudiniout  contiimos  through  stnerul  seasons,  I  um 
ignorant. 

AI)out  tho  niiddit!  of  May,  tho  pair  conimnnoo  l)uil(linj!f. 
Tin;  nest  is  pciisilt!,  uiid  iisuiilly  hiiilt  in  tall  troths  (iisn.illy 
poplars),  ol'tcn  liTfy  ti'(;t  from  the  jiiound.  it  is  i-onstructi'd 
of  strips  of  grape-vino  hark,  grass,  loavos,  or  hass-wood 
hark  ;  and  sonictinios  hinichos  of  catcrpilhirs'  silk  aro  loft  on 
th(!  ontsido,  as  if  for  onmnuMit.  Tho  following  very  intor- 
osting  account  of  tho  hrcoding  haljits  of  this  hird  is  given 
hy  Audul)on,  who  watched  a  pair  building  in  a  Lonihardy 
poplar :  — 

'One  nioniiiig,  T  ohsorved  both  of  thorn  at  work:  tlioy  luvd 
alrciuly  attaclictl  some  slender  lilades  of  grass  to  tlic  knots  of  tlitt 
hniiuli  and  tlic  burk  of  the  trunk,  and  bad  given  tlieni  a  eirculur 
disposition.  Tliey  continued  working  downwards  and  outwards 
until  the  structure  exhibited  tlie  thriu  of  tlmr  (bdieate  tenement. 
IJefore  tlie  end  of  tbt;  seeond  day,  l)its  of  hornets'  nests  and  particles 
of  corn  liusks  bad  been  attached  to  it  by  pusliing  them  lietween  tho 
rows  of  grass,  and  lixing  tlieni  with  silky  snltstances.  On  the  third 
day,  the  birds  were  al)sent,  nor  could  I  iiear  them  anywhere  in  the 
neigbl)orliood  ;  and,  thinking  that  a  eat  might  have  caught  them  ♦roni 
the  edge  of  the  roof,  I  des|(aired  of  seeing  them  again.  On  tho 
fourth  morning,  howt;ver,  their  notes  iittracted  my  attention  before 
I  arose ;  and  I  had  the  pleasure  of  lijiding  them  at  their  labors. 
The  materials  which  they  now  used  consisted  ehiefly  of  extn  inely 
slender  "rasses,  which  the  birds  worked  in  a  circular  form  within 
the  frame  which  they  bad  previously  made.  The  little  creatures 
were  absent  nearly  an  hour  at  a  time,  and  returned  together,  bring- 
ing the  grass,  which,  1  concluded,  they  found  at  a  considerable 
distance.  Going  into  the  street  to  see  in  what  direction  they  went, 
I  watched  them  for  some  time,  and  folb)we(l  them  as  they  flew  from 
tree  to  tree  towards  the  river.  There  they  stopped,  and  looked  as 
if  carefully  watching  me,  when  they  resunu'd  their  journey,  and 
led  me  quite  out  of  the  village  to  a  large  meadow,  where  stood  an 
old  hay-stack.    They  alighted  on  it,  and,  in  a  few  minutes,  each  had 


!:^ 


|H 


TIIK   WlIITK-KYKf)    VIJtKO. 


276 


M'I(.(.t..,I    a    J)l«,|„    of    m-iHs         I>„,,„..  •  ,  . 

'''<■ -n...  kin.i  or  ,.,.ss   ,,    ' '"  ;■"";•""*"'  '■"  "•"^•""'"^'  '•<- 

"'•■•^•-i'.." r::,:;:t;:T:,7"''^'''"^-^'"- 

'"^  in  if.  fun.  roun.l.  an.l  pn.s  ,';  .""•\"""''' ""'"'•  tin- ...sf, 

'■""'"•'  "■•l'•'•••^v  oval  ronn   whil     1     ,  "  ""'^  ^^♦"'^  «'""ll.  of  a 

^-''y"-<>tinK.„.!Jo      ;  ;;:;:;;:''^:!'''7\-'-^ 

f..,nah,  a,.,,  „„,    ,   ,  '   "'"   '"•''•;  "-"''l   LH...   ins..,,s    o  rhf 

in Jlo;,;;::;r;:;;^;!;:;:::,-7  t...  i  e. .,, ..,,. 

0.10  brood  is  n.u-0  1  . .        '"  '"'"'  "'  ^'"'^  ••''•^-     i>nt 

<iin.ensionsoriw:.i:'-.:;n\;''^'''^':^^'^-^^^  '^^"e 
''-'i^i'-  are  M  Uy  SI  i,  h  IT '"'"'  '''•'"  ^'"^''-^ 
'■"•'I',  -TH  l.y  .r,3  inch      Tl  '  m  ■  '^/  "  '""'''  '''^  ''^^  ->4 

a.o  size  o^,.;::   I  i,,'^^;;;;;'     ^^-''^  to  I.  tl.  ave. 

VIEEO    NOVEBOEACENSIS.-«„„.^„,,,. 
The  White-eyed  Vireo. 

.Vmvcvva  ,-r,„^,^,>,  ^vil..o„.    An..  (),„.,  n  (,«";  JJ;*"-  *^""-'  ^-  (l^'^-')  306. 

DksCIUI'TIO.V. 

SpiinoiiH  priiiKirv  ahoiit  hiili-n,.,  .  ■      ,. 

^"•;-"  "i'.-  pans  wH„.;"i;;:  ::;:;;: ;;^;;;^'^  ""■-  '■'.-.•  to  ,he  .,„„.  ,ui,., 

'  <"  base  of  „...  „„..,  ,..„„„„,  J^2  ;V  r'r    "•"■"  "-  "•'t.Ti..r  ..,.,„„..  to 

almost  pnulM«..-ydlow,  ...Iko-s  of  ^nZ!lZ  ,""•''  ''""'  '""'•^-  ^^•""  "^''"'^•'l, 

I-'K'<^  «vei„ehes;. in,,  .,.o„„at,,,  ::::;,  -J''^^ 


f 

K  ' 

1 

:|f'l 


!        ^J 


#^<     >     I 


276 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


This  species  is  very  irregularly  distributed  in  New  Eiig-. 
land  as  a  summer  inhabitant.  In  Maine,  New  Hampsliire, 
and  Vermont  it  is  rai'e  ;  and,  while  it  ie  quite  abundant  in 
the  eastern  i)arts  of  Massachusetts,  it  is  rare  in  the  western. 
Says  J.  A.  Allen  of  it,  at  Springfield, — 

"  I  have  never  known  tlie  White-eyed  Vireo  taken  here  ;  ami  if 
occurring,  as  it  very  probably  does,  being  not  very  uncommon  in 
the  eastern  parts  of  the  State,  it  must  be  excessively  rare.  In 
about  a  thousand  speciiiens  of  the  smaller  land  birds  taken  at 
Springfield  during  the  last  three  years  by  different  collectors,  not 
a  single  White-eyed  Vireo  has  been  found." 

This  species  arrives  from  the  South,  upually  in  pairs,  from 
about  the  10th  of  April  to  the  1st  of  May.  It  generally 
frequents  low  thickets  and  swamps.  I  do  not  remember  of 
ever  meeting  with  one  in  deep,  high  wooas ;  but  have  often 
found  a  pair  in  a  brier-patch  in  the  middle  of  an  old  field  or 
pastiire.  In  such  localities,  its  peculiar  note  'chip  vheiveeo, 
'chip  'chip  cJieweeo,  is  often  heard  ;  together  with  anotlicr 
rattling,  scolding  note,  difficult  of  description.  When  the 
bird  is  approached,  it  meets  the  intruder  with  this  scolding 
rattle  ;  and,  if  the  nest  is  approached,  the  Vireo  becomes 
almost  outrageous  in  its  remonstrances.  The  nest  is  usually 
placed  in  a  thicket  of  briers  or  vines,  often  in  tlie  gardens 
and  fields.  It  is  constructed  of  fibres  of  the  inner  bark  of 
trees,  fine  twigs,  grasses,  pieces  of  hornets'  nests,  and  frag- 
ments of  paper.  These  are  built  in  a  pensile  form,  sus- 
pended l)y  the  upper  edge,  and  lined  with  slender  strips  of 
grape-vine  l)ark  and  roots.  Tlie  eggs  are  usually  four  in 
number,  and  can  hardly  bo  distinguislied  from  those  of  the 
Red-eyed  Vireo  in  shape  or  color;  the  average  dimensions 
being  a  trifle  smaller.  Several  eggs  collected  in  dilTeroiit 
localities  exhibit,  as  an  average  measurement,  .82  by  .59 
inch.  A  nest  complement  of  four  eggs,  collected  in  Milton, 
Mass.,  vary  but  a  trifle  from  this  size  ;  their  measurement 
being  .83  by  .o9  inch,  .82  Ijy  .59  incli,  .82  by  .58  incli,  .80 


THE  SOLITARY  VIBEO. 


277 

la-jd  u.  tl,o  soasoa,  and  the  period  of  incubatiou  Ct^Z 

VIEEO    S0LITAEIUS.-l7.;/fo(. 
The  Solitary  Vireo;  Blue-headed  Vireo. 
Musdcapa  snUtaria,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  11.  (1810)  143 
^^'■eosolUaru,,,VmlU,t.   Nouv.  Diet  HSIT^      a     w^       „ 
(1830)  432.    A'utt.  Man.,  I.  (1832130^"  ^       ^^    ^^'"^-  ^"'-  ^'°S''  ^-  (1831),  14?;  V. 

DKSClilPTIOJf. 

tl.e  base  of  ,l,e  1.111;  undor'nar  s.  e  ,  1  '"'"•■,  '^-^*'^"'""^'  '"^-e  this  spot  to 
two  ..an.,s  on  tl.o  win.  .ol^  I  til''  ;::^^;t^  ""  T''  ^-•-"■^•' "ow ; 
outer  tail  fealhor  with  its  ed<re  a  I  roun.    I         •  ««'""daries,  greenish-white; 

I-.«th,  ahont  iive  and  atl^'i^I  j      '  :  '^  ::;' !"  '^""  '"'''  -''^^^- 

<  »i"o,  two  and  forty  one-hundredtlis. 

This  bird  is  a  rare  summer  resident  i„  xVcv  Ei.ohnd      T, 

'it  "1-      r'  '■"  ""  "'°"  '*"'"''  "'"  "»'  i"  an;t  Lr 
J,,    '  •"^"   •'^»^■l«ra„eo  about  (be  first  or  second  w  eki  i 

"  The  ..est  i.s  prettily  constnu-te,!,  and  fixed  in  a  nnrf;..11 
""""HU-,  between  two  twi^^s  of  a  l.nv  ,,!'''''" '^^'^'^'""y  pen.stle 

I'oHzontaiiyfVom  the  main  sten  is  ",'  '  ''"""■''  "'""'"»' 

''•■•'--•'.>.t.yiuuto,ethe,::  ,!.•::, :"r'fr'^''''^ 

<'*•*■'•  =»"1  n.m.o„.     The  fe,n.,]e  l.v.  f  1  ^'^^  ^'  '''"'"  ^''« 

-l.ito,withast,.on.tin.J      'ts     .  ,  ;:"  T  ^!^  ^^-«' -J'-''  - 
i«l.-red  dots  at  tl,:  la,.::.' Lll."  '  ""  '''"''''''  ^'^'^  ^•■-"- 

A  munbcT  of  ogo-s  ]„  n,y  colloctio.i  coiTesno.ui  in  .  i 
'^"^^  "I'ti-ldngs  to  the  above  dcscriotioi,     mT  "' 

tlieaven.oo  .81  hr  .Vh-.u.|,       '   '^"^'^  "*"'  '^"^'  measure  ou 

'        ou„h  (hcic  luiNo  hecMi  specuuens  taken  as  late  as 


.1^         £>ii...;¥iAi 


278 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


October.  But  little  is  known  of  the  habits  of  this  bird,  as 
it  prcfor.3  the  deep  woods  and  swamps  to  the  more  open  dis- 
tricts. 

VIEEO    FLAVIFEONS.  —  Vleillot. 
The  Yellow-throated  Vireo. 

llreo  Jlnvlfrons,  Vicillot.    Ois.  Am.,  L  (1807)  85.    Aud.  Om.  Biog.,  IL  (1834) 
119;  V.  428.     74.,  Syn.     JL,  Itirds  Am  ,  IV.  (1842)  141. 
Muickiipa  sylvkvla,  Wilson.    Am.  Orii.,  IL  (1810)  117. 

DE.sci!H"rioN. 

No  spurious  quill;  the  first  and  foiirth  pqual;  from  bill  to  middle  of  back,  sides 
of  head,  neck,  aud  fore  part  of  breast  (ilive-f;reen;  bencatli,  from  bill  to  middle  of 
belly,  with  a  rinj;  ro.md  the  eyes,  sulpluir-yellow;  lores  dusky;  rest  of  under  parts 
white-  of  upper,  ashy-blue,  tiuf^ed  with  green;  two  white  bands  on  the  wing;  ter- 
tiaries  edged  with  white,  other  quills  with  greenish;  outer  tail  feathers  edged  with 
yellowish-white;  the  outer  web  of  lii-st  feather  entirely  of  this  color,  except  near 
the  end. 

Length,  nearly  six  inches ;  wing,  three  and  twenty  one-hundredths. 


■U'   ,    |}, 


This  beautiful  Vireo  is  not  very  common  in  Now  Eiif>land, 
although  it  is  Ibund  in  all  these  States  as  a  summer  visitor. 
It  arrives  from  the  South  about  the  middle  of  April,  some- 
times not  before  tlie  first  of  May,  and  commences  buildiiio- 
about  tlr  middle  of  the  latter  month.  The  nest  is  placed 
in  a  small  fork  of  a  tree,  usually  the  apple-tree,  at  a  height 
of  about  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is  the 
most  beautiful  nest  made  I)y  l)irds  of  this  genus :  it  is  built 
of  nearly  the  same  materials  as  the  others,  but  is  covered  in 
the  most  tasty  manner  with  pieces  of  lichens  and  caterpil- 
lars' silk  and  spiders'  webs,  which  are  plastered  or  aggluti- 
nated on  over  the  entire  surface,  giving  the  nest  the 
appearance  of  a  large  bunch  of  moss  hanging  from  a  forked 
twig.  Several  of  these  nests,  collected  in  dilferent  lociili- 
ties,  are  in  my  collection.  They  are  invariably  of  tliis 
description,  and  are  all  lined  with  pieces  of  paper,  was]»s' 
nest,  and  fine  grasses.  AV'ith  the  exception  of  the  nest  of  the 
Humming-bird,  and  perhaps  two  or  three  of  the  Warblers, 
the  nest  of  this  species  is  the  most  beautiful  specimen  of 


THE   YELLOW-THROATED   VIREO. 


279 


l).rd  arclntoctuvc  tl.at  I  am  acquainted  witli.     The  eggs  are 
usually  four  in  nun.bcr.     They  are  of  a  pure-white  color 

"   \  'h?  "T'r   ''"''  ''  '"^  ''''''''  ''  reddish-brown' 
and  black.     Iho  dunonsions  of  four  eggs  collected  in  Con- 

iuN^E^gifr'-     ^"^ -^  ^-^ --ed  in  the  season 

Wilson,  in  describing  the  habits  of  this  bird,  says,— 

"Tim  summer  species  is  found   chiefly  in  tl.e  woods,  hunting, 

among  the  h.gh  branches;  and  has  an  indolent  and  phunt  ve     ote^ 

winch   >t  repeats   with  son.o   little  variation,  every  L  or  twelv^ 

econ<ls   hke  ;,..^  ,reeu,  &c.     It  is  often  heard  in  con.pany  w    h 

th    Red-eyed  Flycatcher  (Afnsdonpa  oUrarea)  ;  the  loud  en'.-JeUc 

■otos  of  the  latter,  nu-ngling  with  the  soft,  languid  warble  o?t  e 

fbrmer,  p,.dnc,ng  an  agreeable  em.ct,  particularly  during  the  LZ 

L.  sil  nt       I  hose  who  loUer  through  the  shades  of  our  magnificent 
forests  at  that  hour  will  easily  recognize  both  species.     It"     Hve 
from    he  south  early  in  May,   and  returns  again  with   its  you" 
ubo.^  the  nnddle  of  Septen.ber.    Its  nest,  which  is  somoti„>es  h     d 
on  the  upper  sale   of  a  lind,,  son.etimes  on  a  horizontal  branch 
among  the  tw.gs  generally  on  a  tree,  is  composed  outwardiv  o 
tl.m  ^r.ps  of  the  hark  of  grape-vines,  moss,  lichens,  &c.,  and  Led 
w-th  hue  ,  ..es  of  such  like  substances :  the  eggs,  usually  four,  Ire 
wlu.e,  tlunly  dotted  with  black,  chiefly  near  the  great  endf   Wi  .  d 
insects  are  its  principal  food."  " 

In  disniissing  this  beautiful  and  favorite  family  of  our 
bu-ds,  1  eel  that  it  is  impossible  to  say  too  much  in  their 
favor:  theu-  neat  and  delicate  plumage  and  sweet  son-  their 
cngagmg  and  interesting  habits,  and  their  well-knownTnsect- 
destroy.ng  proclivities,  have  J.tstly  rendered  them  great 
favomos;  and  the  fanner,  iti  protecting  them,  and  en^our- 
mg  them  to  take  up  homes  near  his  orchards  and  o-ardens 
but  extends  a  care  and  welcome  for  his  best  friends. 


i      tMia 


a|«    111  v<.MiK 


''  U\ 


If 


I   ' 


280 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  ALAUDIDil.:.     Tiik  Skylauks. 

^^.ll.  .lu._|.lat.sno,.rl.vn,  corrc.s,M.„.linj.  position  and  numlKT;  hin.l  daw  very  lo.Q 

■ontal  feallK-rs  cxtiMidiiifr  alonf;  tlio  side  ,^- 


and  neiii-ly  .strai-lit ;  bill  short,  conicnl,  <r 
IIk'  liill;  tho  nostrils  usually  concealed  Ijv 
turtiuis  greatly  elongated  beyond  the  secondaries' 


""•  '-ill ;  the  nostrils  usually  concealed  by  a  tnit  of  bristly  leathers  direJ^ed  Ibn;;;,!;, 


m  I 


EIJKJIOPiriLA,  BoiE. 

/wTmo;,;,/A,  n.,„.:,  Isis  (1828),  .S22.     (Type  Alau^la  alpeslru.)     Sumciently  distinct 
from  Ammy,/,//,,,,  lIuM.boIdt  (Fishes,  18U5).  "nuentlj  distmct 

First  prinnn-y  wanting,;   bill  scarcely  higher  than  broad;  nostrils  circular   con 


EEEMOPHILA   COENUTA.  -  ZW. 

The  Skylark;  Shore-lark. 

luislcvn  ami  Northern  variety. 
Alnmhi  cornutii,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  I.  (1808)  85. 
£remiij)l,il,i  airniitd,  UiHc.     Isis  (1828),  322. 
^W/a  „//..,s7r/,.,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn  ,'l.  (180-^)  85.     Nutt.  M.-,n     I(183'>wrB 
Aud.  Orn.  IJiug.,  II.  (1834)  570 j   V.  418.  '        ^       ^^  ^^^- 

I)i:s(i!irTioN 
Above  pinkish-brown,  the  f..ath..rs  of  the  back  streaked  with  duskv  a  bn,..,l 
band  across  the  crown,  extending  b.ckwar.ls  along  the  lateral  .ufts        i,-" 

""•;,"■""'":" '; •'""  •"" •■^■" -'' '"-^ ^'- -i--' .-■« ■.-. ;     :,.   :    ^ 

n     the  t,u   temhcrs   black  ;  the  inner.nost  of  the  latter  like  the  back    ^        ,     M       [ 
.X  end,ng  backwards  over  the  eye,  and  under  parts,  with  outer  e.ige  of  wb 
tad,  whn    ;  ehin  and  throat  yellow.  ""lo^.md 

l..'i.Ktl.   of    Pennsylvania 'spc.imens,   seven   and    seventv-livo   one-buudr,.,l,|„ 
■"•iH's;  wmg,  lour  and  lifly  on.-bundredths  inches;  tail,  tbrc"..  an.l  tw  n       K 
bundred.hsinclu.;  bill,  above,  li.ly-twoone-hundri.dtlJo.'l.inl-'"''^"^^^ 

rpilIS  bird  is  lotmd  i„  New  Eiioland  only  an  a  winter 
X  visitor.  ]t  makes  it.s  appouniMce  hy  the  latter  part  of 
November,  in  floek.s  of  thirty  or  forty,  which  repair  to  the 
salt-marshes,  and  low  pa.stures  and  fields,  where  they  remain 
during-  their  .stay  with  us.  Jfere  th..y  feed  on  tho  seeds  of 
various  grasses  and  weeds,  and  such  insects  as  they  may  bo 


THE  SKYLARK. 


281 


al)Ic  to  obtain  at  that  iiiclonient  season     Ti        r 

with  tl.c  S,H,w  JJ„nti„o.s  .  w  ?       ■^^•^^o'^'*^'^  associate 

-.  anion,  the  s..:::;;;  ^ ;,:;,  i^'r"','""'^  ^^'"•^'^■ 

and,  in  countiy  .oads,  have  2    t  J^  ,"''^  l"!'""'^-'-  ^ 

J>".Mvs  of  horses  and  caUle  ih    fl  ^''^T  visit  the  dmp- 

J^r  the  middle  of    la  c  .  Th    Sh"    ,'  ?'"""'  '"  ^'-- 

^'^-'  '■'''•  t''«Noiih,wi.eci;ev,;o;Y'''  '"^^'^  ^^•^^^'  j^-«- 

Auciuhon  sa,s,  of  the::;- h 's;i;tL::::^'^''' ''-  ^-""-• 

<l'.si)o.sc.,l  in  Iar.e  p,Ucho.s  or  tu  ,s     J      '    '^  f","  ^'  ^^^"''^  ^'""t'  «'"'«1 

-  S..0  .its,  she  seems  to  i^l^;T^n   '"'  •'"""'  '•'""'  "l^"  "- 
you,  howove,.,  approacli  so  u.ar2  Zt^T'^'  T""'''''     ^''-"•' 

wn.tc.ia.dnc.s,  utton^H.  a  Lt"  t   ')  """=^^;"'^  Jo''-   '-•  in   n.iinic 
;;_-.^n..aUontoWthen:ni:;Ltr^ 

---^"^^^ 

•-  Pak-l.hu.  and   I.n.un  sno'; '    'ri  "     '"'''■^'''  "■''"'  """-- 

'■'"•'■  ^'"Tur.  abl.  to  fiv   .,,,1  V„       li  ^■"""^'  '"•"^^^  '''«  "'-t  he- 

^^■'--''^7-et;.da.!!n;:i!;:rv^^^^^ 

o^'cas.ons,  it  is  aUVu-Wt  to  sec-nr.  ,  f  ""''•''•     ^"  «"••'» 


^11 


282 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


parents,  nil  this  time,  are  following  the  enemy  overhead,  lamenting 
the  danger  to  which  their  young  are  exposed.  In  several  instances, 
the  old  bird  followed  us  almost  to  our  boat,  alighting  occasionally 
on  a  projecting  crag  before  us,  and  entreating  us,  as  it  were,  to 
restore  its  f)fl[si)ring.  15y  the  first  of  August,  many  of  the  young 
are  fully  lk'(lge<l,  and  the  ditferent  broods  are  seen  associating 
together  to  the  number  of  forty,  fifty,  or  more.  They  now  gradu- 
ally remove  to  the  islands  of  the  coast,  where  they  remain  until 
their  departure,  which  takes  place  in  the  beginning  of  September. 
They  start  at  tiie  dawn  of  day,  proceed  on  tlutir  way  south  at  a 
small  elevation  above  the  water,  and  fly  in  so  straggling  a  manner 
tliat  they  can  scarcely  be  said  to  move  in  flocks." 

A  iuinil)er  of  oggs  in  my  collection,  from  Wisconsin  and 
Illinois,  -where  these  birds  breed  in  considerable  numbers, 
are  of  a  faint  grayish-brown  color,  and  marked  with  numer- 
ous dots  and  spots  of  uml)er,  of  different  shades,  over  tlio 
entire  surface  of  the  egg.  On  one  or  two  specimens,  these 
markings  are  confluent  into  coarser  blotches  of  the  two 
shades  of  umber  and  lilac.  Tlie  greatest  dimensions  of  my 
specimens  are  .93  by  .Go  inch ;  the  least  dimensions,  .80 
by  .03  inch. 


» ' 


THE   PINE  GROSBEAK. 


288 


Family  FRINGILLJD^.    Thk  Sked-katkus. 
Suh-Famihj  Coccotiiuaustin-.e The  Finches. 

;.."fr:^;r;;::':;:;,r:;;;r:ty';;r;!;;;::s;;;; ";""' 

;";i  ;:;„  "'Jir;: 'r :  :"•■  ''■':" '*-"■-  =«t; 

b,„,„i  „.  ,1,.  I .    i^r      ::;','v:;  ;";■•  ""-■ ' '  """"'"*■■  '"'»—'■ « 

"»'* '-«" '"' ' -  "."i.-.:::'!  ™;.::.^r ::;,;;;;:  ™*::»"  *- 

PINICOLA,    VIKILLOT. 

Pinkoln,  Xw.u.urT,  Ois.  Am.  Sept.,  f.  (1807) 

i^";;;:s,:;",  r  ,';;;:';:r;;";""  "r;- "-"  ■ """-'"'.-»;- 

""' ' -.«-•  ;i::;::  ;,:tr;,';;:!;.  r,;::::;;- ' " "■" " •■  "■"-■ 

PINICOLA   CANADENSIS.- r<(A««/.. 
The  Pine  Grosbeak. 
rinlcola  Cmtwhnsis.  Cal.anis.     Miis.  Ilcin.  (ISol),  1G7. 
/..UTO  <.HHc/<',rf<,/>,  Wilson.     Am.  (»ni.,  [.  (iso,s)8o'. 
i>W(«/«  «H»f/t«?w,  Aiulubon.     Oni.  Iii(«.,  IV.  (1838)  .Ul. 

lU;,s(i!iiTi<).\, 

Hill  and  l.'Ks  black:  Koncral  color  carmim-rcl,  not  continoo,,,  nl 


I  See  Inti-oduetioii,  and  vol.  IX.  Pacific  IM{.  i;,.ports. 


,".'  ' 


I.J .(, 


284 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


across  the  tips  of  the  greater  and  midille  coverts;  tlie  outer  edges  of  the  quills  also 
white,  broadest  on  the  terfiaries. 

Female,  ashy ;  brownish  above,  tinged  witli  greenish-yellow  beneath ;  top  of  head, 
rump,  and  upper  tail  coverts  brownisii  ganib<ige-yellow;  wings  us  in  tlie  nude. 

Length,  about  eight  and  (ifly  one-liundredtlis  inches;  wing,  four  and  titty  one- 
hinidredtiis;  tail,  four  inches. 

ALTHOUGH  wc  fiiul  in  VeiTiU's  list  of  birds  found  at 
Norway,  Mc,  tliat  this  species  is  there  a  very  oonunoii 
Avinter  visitor,  luy  experience  has  been,  that  it  is  an  ex- 
tremely rare  one  in  Massachusetts,  and  is  only  found  wiili 
us  in  very  severe  seasons. 

This  winter  (1800-t)7),  they  have  been  very  abundant, 
and  good  opportunities  have  been  obtained  for  studyini'' 
their  habits. 

Like  other  northern  species,  the  Pine  Grosbeak  is  very 
tame  and  familiar  while  here  in  whiter.  Mr.  ^laynard,  of 
Ncwtonville,  ]\Iass.,  informs  me,  that  he  has  repeatedly, 
during  this  season,  captured  specimens  in  his  hands,  and 
has  had  no  dilTiculty  in  slipping  a  noose  over  their  heads,  as 
the  birds  were  employed  in  opening  the  pine  seeds,  or  eatiii"- 
the  berries  of  the  cedar ;  and  he  has  now  in  captivity  a 
number  of  specimens  that  are  exceedingly  tame  and  inter- 
esting, feeding  readily  on  various  seeds  and  fruits.  A  pair 
that  I  have  in  my  possession,  which  he  captured,  are  so 
tame  that  they  take  food  from  my  hand,  and  even  perch 
upon  my  linger.  Their  song  is  a  soft,  pleasing  warble,  not 
unlike  that  of  the  canary. 

Both  sexes  have  a  number  of  call-notes,  and  they  keep  up 
a  continuous  twitter  tlirough  the  day :  they  are  always  lively 
and  good-tempered,  and  are  really  entertaining  pets. 

Mr.  Wheelwright,  in  his  valuable  and  exceedingly  intor- 
esthig  book,  "A  Spring  and  Summer  in  Lapland,"  gives 
the  following  account  of  the  habits  of  the  Kuropean  Pine 
Grosbeak,  a  bird  nearly  allied  to,  if  not  identical  with,  oiu- 
own:  "By  the  first  week  in  May,  they  had  paired;  and  wo 
took  our  first  nest  on  June  4,  with  three  eggs,  in  a  small  fir, 
about  ten  feet  from  the  ground,  on  the  side  of  a  small  fell, 


THE  PURPLR   PIXCH. 


286 


h.  by  „„  moans  a  largo  wood:  ai.d  I  „,„y  „i,,,e,.vo  (l,at  all 
he  ao.,ts  wo  took  «..o  built  i„  s„.all  fi,.,  ,Lr  higl  'f       th" 
g  ouncl  ,.,.  ,„  cico,,  w„od».a„d  gonorally  i„  eo„.s„ic°,o,„  «  t  1 
t.o,  .     I  ,0  „o»t  ,,  „„it|,„,  I         „^^  ^ 

pad,  and  oloan ly  l.n.lt,  liko  l.askot-work,  tllo  ont.,ido  vva  1  i " 
«l  V  ,.y  fino  f,r  „,,nol,„,  ,unl  thin  cranborry  fllno,  ti..  ^ 
;  .-laood.  and  l„,od  with  r„,e  stitr  gn.,  „.!.l  a  littlo  h  ' 
Ibo  oggs  vary  „„,eh,  l,„tl,  in  size  and  coloring;  l,„t  am 
u»..al  y  of  a  pale  blno-groc,  ground-color,  blotcho.1  .nd  in  d 
With  bgbt-purplo  and  dark  .,nrnt-, ,„r  spot,  and  pri   « 

Tho  food  or  tho  Grosbeak  is  not,  a.  in  the  Crossbills,  from 
the  seed  of  the  hr  „,«,  but  the  sn.all  bnds  or  emlnyo  o   tt 

of   ht  I    ,  I,  ,t  they  can  ,„ek  ont  the  seeds  from  the  cones 

Fo,  averyfnl  and  n.teresting  description  of  the  habits 


CARPODACUS,  Kaup. 

Mire  nearly  stmit^ht  to  the  sli^htlv  tk.furve.l  n,ul-  a  .1         ,1       .  '■'""""■" 

iWithoi-s  aliMiir  tlio  sides  „f  tli,.  hill  \         .  "      'I'-'volopuiciit  of  l.ristlv 

^>^nl;s  loMf.  an,l  p  .inted,  rea.l.inf;  to  the  middle  ot. I,  "'' ''''''''''''' 

^-et  thai,  the  .i„,  and  .aode-^el,  ..^"^Z  X^:^^.  wf'^^"'^ 
/ 

CARPODACUS   PURPUREUS.-(7rrty. 

The  Purple  Finch. 

FrimjUla  2mrpurea,^y\hon.    Am.  Orn    Iri80SMio      a    i  /^      ^ 
24;V.2U0.  '  ^rn.,i.(ifc08)119.    Aud.  Om.  Biog.,  I.  (1831) 

Dksciui-tion. 


286 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGV. 


oualyto  tho  lowor  pnrtof  thn  bronst,  and  in  spots  to  tlip  tiltiip;  tlir  holly  nnd  under  tnll 
I'OViTtH  white,  Htri'iiki'd  laiiilly  with  hiiiwii.  except  in  the  very  niidille ;  e(l;;ert  of  wingK 
and  tail  leatliers  l)r(iwni,'<li-re(i ;  less.r  eoveils  hite  the  hack;  two  ivii(ii>li  liand.s  ntrosH 
tho  wiiij;f(  (over  tliu  cnd.-t  of  tiie  nii(htit'  and  t'leuti'r  coverts);  hires  (hili-f'Tayish. 

l''omalo  olivaccoud-hrown,  hriK'hter  on  the  rninp;  hcneatii  white;  all  thu  leather* 
everywhere  streaked  willi  brown,  except,  on  the  middle  of  thu  helly  and  under  coverts, 
a  superciliary  li;;ht  stripe. 

I.ciif,'th,  six  and  twenty-live  one-hinidredths  inches;  winj;,  three  and  thirty-four 
pne-hundrcdths;  tail,  two  and  lilly  one-hundrcdths;  bill,  above,  forty-six  one-huii- 
ilredths  of  an  inch. 


This  apccios,  altliouf^li  qtiito  common  in  many  localifiog 
of  New  Eiighuul,  is  very  irregularly  distributed.     For  in- 
stance,  it  breeds  abundantly  in  and  near  Cambridge,  Mass. 
but  is  not  found  in  any  otiier  part  of  the  State  in  any  thing 
like  the  abundance  that  it  is  there.     In  that  locality,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  common  birds  breeding;  in  other  localities,  it 
is  occasionally  found  in  only  detadied  pairs.     So,  in  Maine, 
it  is  conunon  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Uml»agog  lakes;  but 
elsewhere  it  is  not  often  setMi.     Tiiere  seems  to  bo,  as  Mr. 
Allen  justly  remarks,  a  great  increase  of  this  species  within 
the  hist  i'ow  years;  and  it  is  l)eginning  to  be  one  of  our  most 
connnon  species.     The  birds  separate  into  pairs  soon  after 
their  arrival,  about  the  middle  of  Apiil,  but  do  not  com- 
mence building  before  the  middle  of  May.     They  are  occa- 
sionally resident  here  through  the  mild  winter ;  but,  as  a 
general  thing,  they  arrive  in  New  England  in  flocks  of  ten 
or  a  dozen  about  the  last  of  ^Nrarcli.     The  nest  is  usually 
l)uilt  in  a  pine  or  cedar  tree,  and  is  sometimes  thirty  or  even 
forty  feet  from  the  ground,  —  oftener  about  fifteen  or  twenty. 
It  is  constructed  of  line  roots  and  grasses,  and  is  lined  with 
horsehair  and  hogs'  bristles.    One  specimen  in  my  collection 
has  tho  cast-oir  skin  of  a  snake  woven  in  tho  rest  of  tho 
fabric  ;  and  I  have  seen  nests  lined  with  mosses.    Generally, 
hairs  of  dilTerent  animals  form  tho  lining,  and  roots  and 
grass  the  main  structure. 

Tho  eggs  are  of  a  beautiful  bluish-greon  color,  and  marked 
with  spots  and  streaks  of  black:  their  form  is  a  sharply 
pointed  oval,  and  their  dimensions  vary  from  .01  by  .04  inch 


THK   PUHPLK    FINCH. 


287 


to  .88  by  .(JO  incl..     Tnvo  broods  are  often  reared  in  tho 

This  species  is  one  of  tl.o  fou-  injurions  birds  tb.-t  we  have  • 

an.  ,  aid.onjrh  ,t  has  a  beautiful  warblini.^  sung,  and  is  altol 

gcther  a  hne-luokiu,  bi.-d,  it  is  ..nu-h  disliI<od  h  the  elunt  l 

m  eonse,,uenee  of  its  bad  habit  of  c-utting  oil'  and  eating 

he  buds  and  blossoms  of  fruit-trees.     Wilso.i  says  of  this 


((  T 


Tl.ia 


18 


from  the  NortI 


I  wiiittT  hini  of  j)assa,i;o,  com 


li,  ill  ScptcinlHTaiid  ()i-tol», 


11^  to  lis  in  liirffc  flock^ 


...  -  '^■'"'•L''';  ^''"cat  miiiihcrs  r(>niain- 

n.g  witli  ,iH  n.  Poi.nsylvai.ia  durin.  tl.o  wl.olo  wi,,..,  f,,,,;,..  ,„ 
to  .00.1s  ot  the  poplar,  l„.tton-woo.l,  j..nip„,  eodar,  and  on  tJioso 
ot  many  rank  woods  that  flourish  in  rioh  bottoms  and  along  the 
margm  of  oi-ooks.     Whon  the  soason  is  vory  hov.to,  thov  proceed 
t.  the  Soiith,  as  f^u-  at  least  as  Gooi^ia.  rotun.ing  North  Lt 
April.      Ihoy  now  troquoi.t  the  elii.-treos,  fooding  on  tho  sh-mlor 
hu    .swoot  onvoni.g  of  tho  tlowors  ;  and,  as  soon  as  tho  ..h.-.-rios  put 
out  thoir  blossoms,  food  almost  oxolusivly  on  tho  stamina  of  the 
flowers:  aftoruards.  tho  applo-blossoms  are  atta,.kod  in  tho  samo' 
iminner;  and  tho.r  .lopro.latioiis  on  those  c.mtinuo  till   thoy  disan 
pear,  wh.oh  is  usually  about  the   Idlh  or  middl,.  of  IMav      I  l.-ivo 
l..on  told  that  th..y  som,.timos  brood  in  the  norti.orn  pa"rts  of  New 
\ork,  but  havo  mvor  mot  with  tl.oir  nosts.     About  tho  middlo  of 
Soptombor,   I   found   those   birds   numorous  on   Lout   Maud    .„,.! 
around  Nowark  in  New  Jersey.     Thoy  fly  at  a  <-onsidorahlo  lu."  d,t 
'■'  ""'  air;  and  thoir  noto  is  a  single  c/iud;  like  that  of  tho  Ui«. 
h.nl.  _  rhvy  possoss  groat  bohb.oss  and  spirit,  and,  whoi.  oau.d.t, 
luto  v.olontly,  and  hang  by  tho  bill  fron.  your  han.l,  strikin-r  Cith 
girat  fury;  but  thoy  are  soon  reconoilod  to  confinomont,  and  in  -i 
•'">'  '"•/""  a'-''  'fito  at  home.     I  have  kept  a  pair  of  thoso  bird's 
upwards  ot  nino  months  to  observe  their  mam.ers.    Ono  was  c-iu-dit 
-n  a  trap,  tho  otlu'r  was  wingod  with  tho  gun  :  both  are  now^as 
familiar  as  it  brought  up  from  tho  nost  by  tho  hand,  and  soom  to 
Fctor  homp-secd  and  eherry-blossoms  to  all  other  kin.ls  of  food 
Both  male  and  female,  though  not  crested,  are  almost  constantlv 
in  the  habit  of  erooting  the  feathers  of  the  crown.     They  appear  to 
be  of  a  tyrannical  and  domineering  disposition :    for  thoy  nearlv 


1  ri 


j<'' 


:■  I 


«r^^    I'll  w 


!  f 


288 


OUNITIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOOV. 


kill«!(l  an  Tndijio-lHrd,  nnd  two  or  throo  otliors,  tliat  wore  orcnsion- 
nlly  iil.ic(«(l  witli  thctn,  (Jriviiiif  fli(>m  into  n  roriior  of  tlio  cn«»n, 
fltiiiidiiiM;  on  111, .Ml,  and  toaririj,'  out  llicir  fciidicrs.  strikinjj  tliorn  on 
IIhj  lioud,  ninncliinir  their  win-rs,  &c.,  till  I  was  oliiiircd  to  intiTfcro; 
nnd,  evon  if  oaiicd  to,  tlio  air,i,'r('SHor  would  only  turn  uj)  a  malicious 
eye  to  me  for  a  moment,  and  renew  liis  outra-,'e  a.s  before.  Tliev  nre 
a  hardy,  viyoroiis  Itird.  In  the  month  of  October,  alumt  the  time 
of  their  first  arrival.  I  shot  a  male,  rich  in  pliima^re,  and  plump  in 
flesh,  l)ut  wliieh  wanted  one  li'ir,  that  liad  boon  taken  off  a  little 
above  the  knee* :  the  wound  bad  healed  so  eomplotely,  and  was 
covered  with  so  thick  a  skin,  that  it  seemed  as  thouirh  it  liad  been 
so  for  years,  AVhether  this  mutilation  was  occasioned  by  a  shot,  or 
in  party  qiiarrfds  of  its  own,  I  could  not  determine:  but  our  invalid 
seemed  to  have  used  his  stump  either  in  hopping  or  restin<r;  for  it 
liad  all  the  appearance  of  having  been  brought  in  frequent  contact 
with  bodies  harder  than  itself." 


'hi  '( 


t  » 


CHRYSOMITHIS,  Boik. 

airpowUrh.  Hoik,  Isis  (1S28).  .TJi.  (Typo  Frin;,nin  npinii.i,  LinnnMis.) 
Bill  rnthcr  aciiti-ly  conic,  the  tip  not  very  slinrp;  the  ctilnien  s-liulitiv  convex  nf 
the  tip;  llie  coniniisMiire  f^entiy  curved:  nostrils  concealed;  obsolete  ridtjes  on  the 
npper  niinillMe;  tarsi  .sinater  tlian  the  middle  toe;  outer  toe  rather  flic  lonRor, 
reaciiinff  to  the  haso  of  the  middle  one;  claw  of  hind  toe  shorter  tlian  the  di{,Mtal 
portion;  win^i*  find  tail  as  in  Aei/itilliim. 

The  colors  are  generally  yellow,  with  black  on  the  crown,  throat,  back,  wings 
and  tail,  varied  sometimes  with  white.  ' 


CHBYSOMITRIS    TRISTIS,  -  Honnparte. 
The  Yellow-bird;  Thistle-bird. 

FrhuiUh  irhli),  I.innrviis.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17GC)  320.  Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  I.  (ISOS)  oq 
And.  Orn.  Itinj;.,  I.  {\K\\)  172;  V.  .''.10. 

Descrhtion. 

Hrifrht  iriimbofre-yellow;  crown,  winffs,  nnd  tail,  Idnek;  lesiser  win;;  onverts, 
l)an(I  across  the  end  of  f,'reater  ones,  ends  of  secondaries  and  tiTtiaries,  inner  mar- 
gins of  tail  feathers,  nppi ,  „i:d  nn<ler  tail  coverts,  nnd  tibia,  white.  Female  re- 
placiiifT  the  yellow  of  the  male  by  a  f,'reenish-olivc  color. 

Length,  five  and  twenty-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  inches. 

Tills  woll-kuowii  bird  is  a  vciy  common  summer  iiiliab- 
itant  of  all  New  England,  and   in  tlie  .soutliorn  districts 


TIIK    YKLLOW-niRD. 


289 


.•ou,tlu,n.Hyspnn,Jtdoo«  not  hoKiu'o  build    i 
tl.o  nn.kll,,  ,.f  J„n„.     The  .uHi.st  nest  that  I  over  hoa.d  ,  f 
WUH  lu.uHl  Juno  the  lOth,  a.ul  v.M-y  fovv  arc  f.rni  asn 
-  the  mi.Ullo  of  that  month.     The  „o  t  Tus       v  ,1       i^ 

„   /•     I      1  ,  ,    .  A  illy  luni,  i,v(  iisiiaily  I)  ji(;i>(i  in 

a  l..rk«l  h™„cl,  ,„  „„  „|,,,|„.,r„o  i„  tl,„  orchard,  »„H  1 

"I  «..rt  »  n,.s  of  ,|,„  „.|a,.  „,„l  grape-vine  bark:  the  r^e 
very  neatly  wove,,  together  h.to  a  eon,|.aet  slrueluro  whH, 
.s  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with  ioft  do.  w;,  ' 
ll"»l  e,  and  son^etime,  a  fe,v  feather.,.  The  e-.-  „  „ 
u^ally  fonr  in  nnn.her.-  their  forn,  i,  generaMv  o>°  I 
n..d  heir  color  a  hlnislMvhito.  nin,en.,ion«  -y  ,n  ' 
hy  .f)i)  ineh  to  .02  by  .50  ineh       T>„f  ,.,.„  i  •;'}■"""' -UO 

the  snnnner.  "  ""°  '"'°°''  "  """■'•^  "' 

The  habits  of  thi.,  bird  are  ,„  well  known  that  I  will  not 
pvo  them  an  e.xtonde,!  notiee  here.  It  seen.s  to  bo  a  p  r 
»..^tently  greganons  «peeie., :  for,  even  in  the  breeding 
»ea»on,  several  fatnilie,  are  „,,nally  found  in  one  ,  ei^d  "' 
I  «HKl;  and  the  tnales  often  a».,e,nble  together,  and  2TL 
tune  n,  eolleeting  food.  ,rin„ning  thei^  feather^alrh^ 
Hifc.  In  r.et  tin,  bud  .,oon,.s  to  bo  more  of  a  dandy  and 
eo„,eqne„tly  es.,  of  a  family  n.an,  than  n,o,t  of  o^  ;,^  r 
,pee.e, ;  and  I  have  notieed  that  1,„  leaves  the  grea  tr  mr 

atntivl'Tn::."^  "'"  "'""^  ^"'^  "^'^  "'»  ^'■™"^™  "'^^ 
When  the  season   of  inonbalion  Ii,,.,  pas.sed,  tho  birds 

ssemh le  n,  floeks  of  fro.n  ten  to  twenty  or  ,l,i  ty  in  , ,  n, 
I'e  ,  and  fre,p,ent  the  gardens  and  stnbble-fields,  wire  Z 

ub  ,st  „pon  the  seeds  of  varions  weed,  and  gra  ,es.     T    y 

.a>e  a  short  nolo  like  .he  „*.,  ,v|,ie,,  i,\n,,„3  2^ 

.some  nne,  n>  a  drawling,  plaintive  key,  and  at  other  Z  s 

m  a  l,r,sk,  cheerfnl  tone.     Their  flight  is  ttndnlatin.  I'd 

jeckus.     \Vlen  on  the  wtng,  they  have  a  short,  simple 
chatter,  l.ke  'eke  'eke  'eke  'eke,  uttered  rapidly,  and  with 

J- V 


■■I 


••>, 


•       .  if: 


290 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


I      !?ii^ 


emphasis  on  the  second  syllable.  Occasionally,  the  male 
emits  a  continued  warbling  song,  very  similar  to  that  of  the 
Canary-bird ;  and  I  have  heard  one  of  this  species  sing  in 
confinement  almost  as  sweetly  and  often  as  its  more  familiar 
and  domesticated  relative. 

CHRTSOMITEIS  PINUS Bonaparte. 

The  Pine  Finch. 

Fringilta pinus,  Wilson.  Am.  Orn.,  IL  (1810)  133.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (1834) 
455 ;  V.  609. 

Chrysomitns pinus,  Bonaparte.    Consp.  (1850),  515. 

Description. 

Tail  deeply  forked;  above  brownish-olive:  beneath  whitish,  every  feather 
streaked  di.<tinctly  with  dusky;  conceali.'d  bases  of  tail  feathers  and  quills,  together 
w  their  inner  edges,  sulphur-yellow;  outer  edges  of  quills  and  tail  feathers  j-el- 
1       :h-green;  two  brownish-white  bands  on  the  wing. 

i^ength,  four  and  seventy-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  inches;  tail, 
two  and  twenty  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  bird  is  lonnd  in  New  England,  usually  as  a  winter 
visitor.  While  here,  it  has  all  the  habits  of  the  preceding 
species,  and  might,  at  a  little  distance,  be  mistaken  for  that 
bird.  The  Pine  Finch,  as  its  name  implies,  prefers  the 
groves  and  forests  of  pines  to  other  trees ;  and  it  is  found  in 
all  our  pine  woods  in  flocks  of  twenty  or  thirty,  where  it 
feeds  on  the  seeds  contained  in  the  cones  on  these  trees. 
It  has  been  known  to  breed  in  Cambridge,  in  tiiis  State ;  but 
1  know  nothing  of  its  breeding  habits. 


CURVIROSTRA,  Scopoli. 

Loxia,  LiNN.EUs,  Syst.  Nat.,  1758.  (Type  Loxia  curvimtra,  L.  Not  of  1735, 
which  has  for  type  Loxia  coccothvaustes,  L.) 

CurriroBlra,  ScoroLi,  1777.    (Type  L.  curvirostra.) 

Mandibles  much  elongated,  compressed,  and  attenuated;  greatly  purved  or 
falcate,  the  points  crossing  or  overlapping  to  a  greater  or  less  degree;  tarsi  vorv 
short:  claws  all  very  long,  the  lateral  extending  beyond  the  middle  of  the  central; 
hind  claw  longer  than  its  digit;  wings  very  long  and  pointed,  reaching  beyond  the 
middle  of  the  narrow,  forked  tail. 

Colors  reddish  in  the  male. 


THE   RED   CROSSBILL. 


291 


The  elongated,  compressed,  fhlcate-curvprl    «„^  i 

characterize  this  genus  amonj^  birds  '  °^'"'»PP"'g  '"andibles  readily 


CURVIBOSTEA  AMERICANA.  -  TT/ton. 

The  Bed  Crossbill. 

Curvirostra  Americana,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IV.  (1811)  44 
Lo^uc  cun-trostra.    Aud.  Biog,  II.  (1834)  550;  V.  511. 

Desckiption. 
Male  dull-red;  darkest  across  tbo  i.o,.i,. 

crown  bright  greenish-vellow;  benelth  J  avir  ^         .     '^"''^^' ^''"''''^ '  rump  and 
tlie  body,  with  ffreenish-yellov;   Zt^eSv    *"*'''^''' ^^^P*^^"*"-- <>"  the  sides  of 

The  immature  and  voung  birds^x    tit       ■  f        T   """''  ''"^""•• 
of  the  n,ale  and  female.     They  al    a-^^     ,     r^^'"      '  «°'"'^'"''tions  of  the  colors 
the  wings.  ^     '  "*»'""  '"  "'«  '-'"'"•«  'I'^^ence  of  white  bands  on 

J:t::x":r^::;.:z:^r  "'"'^  ^"^-'^-^-^"•^  ^--^  ->'.  -o 

This  bii^  is  very  irregularly  distributed  in  New  En^ 

."«r;  and  accorOing  to  boti,  Mr.  Allen  aud  Mr!  Verri  nj 
sometunos  broods  boro.     Wi,.„n  .ays  of  .be  babil  of  "ws 

»n,",!?°  ""'  *'""°!"«  "'  ""^  ''"'  °f  *'»  e«raor,Ii„.„y  bird  one  i, 
apt  to  pronounce  it  deformed  and  monstro.,.  •   l„„  ./    ? 

cone,  and  fron.  .,.e  ,n,*,  U,at  ':,:::";::  ^Z^Z  "' 

monstrosity,  a,  t,.e  JZZ  tl^Xl^"'' ' '^'"'^  <•' 
striking  proof  of  the  wisdom  and  li  7  """'5"'"'  '"^''-ates,  i,  a 
great  Creator.  ^  '"'"'  ="l«""«"g  care  of  the 


•  r 


Ml 


Sil 


...£iiMil 


il,  ' 


292 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


"This  species  is  a  regular  inhabitant  of  almost  all  our  pine 
forests  situated  north  of  40°,  from  the  beginning  of  September  to 
the  middle  of  April.     It  is  not  improbable  that  some  of  them  re- 
main during  the  summer  within  the  territory  of  the  United  States 
to  breed.     Their  numbers  must,  however,  be  comparatively  few,  as 
I  have  never  yet  met  with  any  of  them  in  summer,  though  lately 
I  took  a  journey  to  the  Great  Pine  Swamp  beyond  Pocano  Moun- 
tain, in  Northampton  County,  Pa.,  in  the  month  of  May,  expressly 
for   that  purpose;    and   ransacked,   for   six   or   seven   days,    the 
gloomy  recesses  of  that  extensive  and  desolate  morass,  without 
being  able  to  discover  a  single   Crossbill.     In  fall,  however,  as 
well  as  in  winter  and  spring,  this  tract  appears  to  be  their  favorite 
rendezvous ;  particularly  about  the  head  waters  of  the  Lehigh,  the 
banks  of  the  Tobyhanna,  Tunkhannock,  and  Bear  Creek,  where  I 
have  myself  killed  them  at  these  seasons.     They  then  appear  in 
large  flocks,  feeding  on  tiie  seeds  of  the  hemlock  and  white-pine ; 
have  a  loud,  sharp,  and  not  uinnusical  note ;  chatter  as  they  fly  ; 
alight,  during  the  prevalence  of  deep  snows,  before  the  door  of  the 
hunter,  and  around  the  house,  picking  off  the  clay  with  which 
the  logs  are  plastered,  and  searching  in  corners  Avhere  urine,  or  any 
substance  of  a  saline  quality,  had  been  thrown.     At  such  times, 
they  are  so  tame  as  only  to  settle  on  the  roof  of  the  cabin  when 
disturbed,  and,  a  moment  after,  descend  to  feed  as  before.     They 
are  then  easily  caught  in  traps,  and  will  frequently  permit  one  to 
approach  so  near  as  to  knock  tliem  down  with  a  stick.     Those 
killed  and  opened  at  such  times  are  generally  found  to  have  the 
stomach  filled  with  a  soft,  greasy  kind  of  earth  or  clay.     When 
kept  in  a  cage,  they  have  many  of  the  habits  of  the  Parrot ;  often 
climbing  along  the  wires,  and  using  their  feet  to  grasp  the  cones  in, 
while  taking  out  the  seeds." 

Of  its  breeding  liabits  I  know  nothing.     Nuttall  says,  — 

"  They  often  breed  in  v.'inter  in  more  temperate  countries,  as  in 
January  and  February  ;  and  the  young  fly  in  INIarch.  The  nest 
is  said  to  be  fixed  in  the  forks  of  fir-trees ;  and  the  etrnrg,  four  or 
five,  are  of  a  greenish-gray,  with  a  circle  of  reddish-brown  spots, 
points,  and  lines,  disposed  chiefly  at  the  larger  end :  the  lines  also 
often  extend  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  eir<r." 


THE    WHITE-WINGED   CROSSBILL. 


293 


CUEVIEOSTEA  LEUCOPTEEA.- in&o«. 
The  White-winged  Crossbill. 
l^ia  levcoptera,  Audubon.     Orn.  Biofr,  IV  M838>  4n7 
Cur..rostraleuco,tera,  WiLson.    A.„.  Or'n  .  IV.  (miHS. 

Desciuption. 

brown,  from  the  middle  of  belly  to  t  ,e  tnil,^^  ?  .  '  ''''"^'  ''''^'^'^  ^»i"' 
wi.l»  brown;  .scapulars,  win^s  lu  '  n  ^  'T'  r'""'^'''  ''''  '""^■'-  •'"'•««k«a 
across  the  ends  of  Uater  a    Inw  '  "^'    """   ^■"""'^  '^""''-^  on  the  wintr« 

t^rtiaries.  ^       ''  "'"'  ""^''"'"  ^°^«"«i  ^^hite  spots  on  the  end  of  the  inner 

Female  brownish   timrnd  •  -fi.     !• 
crown  with  dusky  <;nt^:    ^  ^  Sni;".^"!!'  ''''"^"  °' ^''^  "^'^'^  ^^ 

This  beautiful  bird  seems  to 
be  mucli  less  frequent  in  its 
winter  visits  to  New  England 
than  tlio  preceding.  It  l,as  all 
the  general  characteristics  of 
tliat  bird.  In  May,  in  the  Hud- 
son's   Bay    country,    according 

to  Mr.    Ilutchins,  it  builds  its 

nest   in   a   pine-tree.      Tiiis   is 

constructed  of  grass,  mud,  and 

feathers,  and  is  lined  with  moss 

and  other  soft  materials.     The 

female    lays    five    white    eggs 

marked  with  yellowish  spot's! 


'-pa«) 


yEGIOTIILTS,  Carams. 

^fjhlhtis,  Caiiaxis,  Mns.  Ilcin    IS'-.I    ini      /t         r^  ■     ...    . 

Hill  very  short    co  nV..l    nu     J    ,f  ^    •''"'  ^'''""'""  ''""'•'"'  I-'""-) 

commissur^strai  j;t  r  I  :  ;  ' 2;  '^"""1;,!"'^  •^""'-  --'  ->--  the 
stiff;  appressed  trisMv  ^  r  !  ^ilZ^T  ':^ l'^  ""'"^  ^"""•^'"'■"  "^^ 
parallel  with  the  eul„u.„.  inner  |„r  /,       T""''''''  '"'^■'""    '''-"'^^   '•''I^-^ 

"ml.lle  of  the  n.i.ldle       ;       1  ,  "  ,'""""^'"  ''"^  '""«<''••  '*«  ''"^^  >•-"■'■'•»«  ,|,e 

tal  portion,  wigt    :;''";    "'T'"'  "'"''''  '''  ''"''■  '""^-  """>  "'-•i.n! 


294 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


aiGIOTHUS  LINAEIA.  —  C«6an!s. 

The  Lesser  BedpoII. 

Fringilla  Unaria,  Linnocus.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17C6)  32i.  And.  Cm.  Biog  IV 
(1838)  533. 

yEyiothus  Unaria,  Cabaiiis.    Mus.  Ilein.  (1851),  101. 

Desciuption. 

Above  liglit-ycllowish,  each  ftather  streaked  with  dark-brown;  crown  dark- 
crimson;  upper  part  of  breast  and  sides  oftiie  body  tinged  with  a  lighter  tint  of  the 
same;  the  rump  and  under  tail  coverts  also  similar,  but  still  less  vivid,  and  with 
dusky  streaks;  rest  of  under  parts  white,  streaked  on  the  sides  with  brown;  loral 
region  and  chin  dusky;  cheeks  (brightest  over  tlio  ej-e),  and  a  narrow  front, 
whitish;  wing  feathers  edged  externally,  and  tail  feathers  all  roinid  with  white;  two 
yellowish-white  bands  across  the  wing  coverts:  secondaries  and  tertiaries  edged 
broadly  with  the  same;  bill  yellowish,  ting-d  with  brown  on  the  cuhnen  and 
gonys;   the  basal  bristles  brown,  reaching  over  half  the  bill. 

The  specimen  described  above  is  a  male  in  winter  dress.  The  spring  plumage 
has  much  more  of  the  red.  The  female  winter  specimens  lack  the  rose  of  the 
under  parts  and  rump;  the  breast  is  streaked  across  with  dusky. 

Length,  tive  and  titty  one-huniiredtlis  inches;  wing,  three  and  ten  one-hundredths 
inches;  tail,  two  and  seventy  one-hundredths  inches. 

Tins  species  is  a  pretty  common  winter  visitor  in  all  parts 
of  New  England.  It  congregates  in  large  flocks,  wliicit 
freqnent  old  fields  and  pastures  and  stnbble-fields,  and  feed 
on  the  seeds  of  weeds  and  grasses.  It  has,  while  witli  ns, 
the  note  and  general  habits  of  the  Goldfinch  and  Pino 
Finch,  and  might  easily,  at  a  little  distance,  be  mistaken  for 
those  birds.  They  seem  fond  of  the  seeds  of  the  wliite 
birch ;  and  they  cluster  so  thick  on  a  branch  of  this  tree, 
while  securing  the  seeds,  that  I  have  killed  as  many  as  a 
dozen  at  a  shot.  Mr.  Selby's  account  of  the  nest  and  eggs 
is  as  follows  :  — 

"  It  is  only  known  in  the  southern  parts  of  Britain  as  a  winter 
visitant ;  and  is  at  tliat  period  gregarious,  and  freipiently  taken,  in 
company  with  the  other  species,  by  the  bii-d-eatchers,  by  wliom  it  is 
called  the  Stone  Redpoll.  In  the  northern  counties  of  Eiiirlaiul, 
and  in  Scotland  and  its  isles,  it  is  resident  through  the  year.  It 
retires,  during  tlie  summer,  to  the  underwood  that  covers  the  bases 
of  many  of  our  mountains  and  hills,  and  that  often  fringes  the 


THE   MEALY  REDPOLL. 


295 


banks  of  their  precipitous  streams ;   iu  which  sequestered  situa- 
tions it  breeds.     The  nest  is  built  in  a  bush  or  low  tree  (such  as 
willow,  alder,  or  hazel),  of  moss  and  tiie  stalks  of  dry  grass,  inter- 
mixed  with  down  from  the  catkin  of  the  willow,  which  also  forms 
the  lining,  and  renders  it  a  particularly  soft  and  warm  receptacle 
for  the  eggs  and  young.     From  this  substance  being  a  constant 
material  of  the  nest,  it  follows  that  the  young  are  produced  late 
in  the  season,  and  are  seldom  able  to  fly  before  the  end  of  June  or 
the  beginning  of  July.     The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number  :  their 
color   pale   bluish-green,   spotted   with   orange-brown,   principally 
towards  the  larger  end.     In  winter,  the  Lesser  Redpoll  descends  to 
the  lower  grounds  in  considerable  flocks ;  frequenting  woods  and 
plantations,  more  especially  such  as  abound  in  birch  or  alder  trees, 
the  catkins  of  which  yield  it  a  plentiful  supply  of  food.     When 
feeding,  its  motion  affords  both  interest  and  amusement ;  since,  in 
order  to  reach  the  catkins,  which  generally  grow  near  the  extremi- 
ties of  the  smaller  branches,  it  is  obliged,  like  the  Titmouse,  to 
hang  with  its  back  downwards,  and  assume  a  variety  of  constrained 
attitudes :  and,  when  thus  engaged,  it  is  so  intent  upon  its  work,  as 
frequently  to  allow  itself  to  be  taken  by  a  long  stick  smeared  with 
bird-lime ;  in  which  way  I  have  occasionally  captured  it  when  in 
want  of  specimens  for  examination.     It  also  eats  the  buds  of  trees, 
and  (when  in  flocks)  proves  in   this  way  seriously  injurious  to 
young  plantations.     Its  call-note  is  very  frequently  repeated  when 
on  wing,  and  by  this  it  may  be  always  distinguished  from  the  other 
species.     The  notes  it  produces  during  the  pairing  season,  although 
few,  and  not  delivered  in  continuous  song,  are  swee.  and  pleasin"-," 

^GIOTHUS  CANESCENS.— CdSaHw. 
The  Mealy  Eedpoll. 

Jif/iothus  canescem,  Cabanis.    Jfiis.  Hoin.  (1851),  161. 
IFrinyiUa  borealis,  Audubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  V.  (1839)  87. 

Dkscriptio^. 

Sizo  lar-o;  bill  sbort;  claws  clon-atod;  rump  white  (in  the  spring,  male  tinged 
witli  roM'),  nov.T  streaked;  tiie  (luiDs  broadly  margined  with  white. 
Length,  six  inches;  tail,  three  and  seventeen  one-hundredths. 

This  bird  occurs  only  as  an  exceedingly  rare  winter  visi* 
tor  in  New  England.     I  have  never  met  with  it  myself,  but 


296 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Mr  Verrill  says  that  it  is  found  rarely  in  Maine.     I  know 
nothing  of  its  habits,  nest,  or  e£r<«-s. 


PLECTROPIIANES,  Meyer. 

rh^ropUne.,  Mevkr,  Taschenbucl.  (18,0).    Agassiz.    (Typo  F.rAeriza  nivalis  ) 
B.ll  vanable  conu.aI,  the  lower  mandil.le  higher  than  the  upper;  the  sic  os  of 
boM  „,.u„es  (,„  the  typical  species)  g.,anlecl  by  a  clo.sely  appliefbrulh         iffe  ,e. 
b.    t!^  ,ea  hers  directea  torwanis,  and  i„  the  upper  jaw  coneeaiiug  the  nostrils-    )' 
ou.ln,es  o     he  b.li  nearly  straight,  or  slightly  curved;  the  lower  jaw  c.nst'a.U 
broader  at  the  base  than  the  upper,  a  kI  wider  than  the  gonvs  is  long         s     ^  i  i 
ably  longer  than  the  n.iddle  toe;    the  lateral  toes  nearly  equal  (.1  e  inne      1  1- 
argest^  and  reac lung  to  the  base  of  the  n.iddle  claw;  th/hinder  claw  ^ri  n  ^ 
nodorately  curved  and  acute;  consi.Ierably  longer  than  its  toe;  the  toe  a,,d     Iw 
ogcther  reaclnng  to  the  n.iddle  of  the  n.iddle  ..law,  or  bevond  iVs  tip;  W    g    v  " 
ong  and  n.uch  pon.ted,  reaching  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  tf.il ;  the  ,i,.     p,  Ih.ng 
the  others  rapully  graduated;  the  tertiarics  ,,  little  longer  than  the  second     i.,' 
—rate,  about  two-thirds  as  long  as  the  wings,  ne^ly  even)  ;;ngi;;K:::;S' 

PLECTEOPHANES  NIVALIS.  -  Meyer. 
The  Snow  Bunting, 

(1811)  80;  Aud.  Orn.  15,og.,  IL  (1834)  516;  V.  (1830)  496. 
"Ftectraphanes  nivalis,  Meyer."    Bon.  List  (1838). 

Description. 

Colors,  in  i-ull  plumage,  entirely  black  and  white ;  middle  of  back  between  scanu 

lars,  ternnnal  hah  of  prinu.ries  and  tcrtiaries,  and  two  innennost  tail  fcatZ  b  1  i 

sewhere  pure-white;  legs  black  at  all  seasons.     I„  winter  dress  w    ,     be       ,,•' 

ni.Tr,     -7' >•'•""»-»-'"•'.»..,  as  also  son.e  blotches  on  the  side  of    h    bels  .' 

muhile^o,  back  brown,  streaked  with  black;  white  on  wings  and  tail  n.u:,':;:j 

This  species  varies  much  in  color;  an.l  the  male  in  full  plumage  is  seldon,  ,Y 
seen  within  the  limits  of  the  United  States.  ^  '  "^ '''"■• 

Length,  about  six  and  seventy-five  one-hnndrcd.hs  inches;  wing  four  and  thim- 
f.ve  one-hundred.hs;  tail,  three  and  tive  one-hundredths  inches;  ti'^  "il.  15" 

Tliis  is  a  very  common  winter  visitor  in  all  parts  of  New 
England,  but  is  most  abundant  in  localities  near  the  sea 
coast.  I  have  seen  flocks  of  hundreds  of  individuals  in  the 
marshes  in  Plymouth  County,  Mass.,  and  have  almost 
always  noticed  that  they  wore  accompauicd  by  Shore-lirks 
and  Redpolls.     They  feed  on  seeds  of  various  wild  plants 


THE  Sx\0\V   BUNTING. 


297 


and  small  shell-n«l,  and  become,  during  their  stay  here 
very  at,  and  are  accounted  as  delicate  eatingVei'c     e  ' 
for  whose  tables  they  are  killed  iu  great  numte/s.  '  ' 

1  10  following  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  tbi, 

=i;;f;:;;:r./-i''-"-" '--."-it 

nearly  extinct,  and  scarcely  any  but  ^»etation  is 

ci-yptogamous  plants  are  found.     It 

therefore  excites  wonder,  how  birds 

wliich  are  rrraniinivorous  in  every 

other  than  those  frost-bound  regions 

subsist,  yet  are  there  found  in  grem 
flocks,  both  on  the  land  and  ic*e  of 
Spitzbergen.  They  annually  pass 
to  this  country  by  way  of  Norway  ; 
for,  in  the  spring,  flocks  innumer- 
able appear,  especially  on  the  Sor- 
wegian  isles,  continue  only  three 
weeks,  and  then  at  once  disappear. 
As  they  do  not  breed  iu   Hudson's 

Hay,  it  is  certain  that  many  retreat  _    _     _ 

to  this  last  of  lands,  and   totally  uninhabited,  to  perform, Tn  full 
security,  the  duties  of  love,  incubation,  and  nutrition.     Sa    tW 

reed  in  Spitsbergen  is  very  p.obable ;  but  we  are  assur  d  tha^ 
t hoy  do  so  in  Greenland.  They  arrive  there  in  April,  and  nnk. 
t  eir  nests  ,n  the  fiss.res  of  the  rocks  on  the  niountains  i  M  ^ 
he  outside  of  then-  nest  is  grass,  the  mi.ldle  of  feathers,  an  1  he 
l.n.ng  ,he  down  of  the  arctic  fox.  They  lay  five  eg.s,  -  , 
spotted  with  brown  :  they  sing  fiuely  near  tlieir  nest! 

>    hey  are  caught  by  ,ho  boys  in  autumn,  when  they  collect 
ncar^the  shores  in  great  flocks,  in  order  to  migrate,  and  L:1^ 

'>  In  Europe  they  inhabit,  during  summer,  the  most  naked  Lan- 

-    alps  ;  and  dccend  in  rigorous  seasons  into  Sweden,  a,.      11  I 

loads  and  fields,-on  which  account  the  Dalecarlian    ca      h  m 


298 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


IHwarsfoyel,  or  bad-weatlier  birds ;  the  ITplaiidorg,  Hardivars- 
fogel,  expressive  of  the  siiino.  The  La|)liiii(hn-s  stylo  tiiein  Alulpg. 
Leeuis  remarks,  I  know  not  with  what  foundation,  tliat  they  fatten 
on  the  flowing  of  the  tides  in  Fininark,  and  grow  lean  on  the  ebb. 
The  Laplanders  take  tliein  in  great  numbers  in  hair  springs,  for  the 
tables  ;  their  /losh  being  very  delicate. 

"  They  seem  to  make  the  countries  within  the  whole  arctic  circle 
their  summer  residence,  from  whence  they  overflow  the  more  south- 
ern countries  in  amazing  multitudes  at  the  setting-in  of  winter  in 
the  frigid  zone.  In  the  winter  of  1778-71),  they  came  in  such  mul- 
titudes into  IJirsa,  one  of  the  Orkney  Islands,  as  to  cover  the  whole 
barony ;  yet,  of  all  the  numbers,  hardly  two  agreed  in  colors. 

*'  Lapland,  and  perhaps  Iceland,  furnishes  the  north  of  Britain 
with  the  swarms  that  frecjuent  these  parts  during  winter,  as  low 
as  the  Cheviot  Hills,  in  latitude  52^32';  their  resting-places,  the 
Feroe  Isles,  Shetland,  and  the  Orkneys.  The  Highlands  of  Scot- 
land, in  particular,  abound  with  them.  Tlu'lr  flights  are  immense; 
and  they  mingle  so  closely  together  in  form  of  a  ball,  that  the 
fowlers  make  great  havoc  among  them.  They  arrive  lean,  soon 
become  very  fat,  and  are  delicious  food.  They  either  arrive  in  the 
Highlands  very  early,  or  a  few  breed  there ;  for  I  had  one  shot  for 
me,  at  Invercauld,  the  4th  of  August.  But  there  is  a  certainty  of 
their  migration ;  for  multitudes  of  them  fall,  wearied  with  their 
passage,  on  the  vessels  that  are  sailing  through  the  Pentland 
Firth, 

"In  theii-  summer  dress,  they  are  sometimes  seen  in  the  south  of 
England,  the  climate  not  having  severity  sulHcient  to  affect  the 
colors ;  yet  now  and  then  a  milk-white  one  appears,  which  is 
usually  mistaken  for  a  white  Lark. 

"  Kussia  and  Siberia  receive  them  in  their  severe  seasons 
annually,  in  amazing  flocks,  overflowing  almost  all  Russia.  They 
frequent  the  villages,  and  yield  a  most  luxurious  repast.  They  vary 
there  infinitely  in  their  winter  colors,  an;  pure-white,  speckled,  and 
even  quite  brown.  This  seems  to  be  the  inthunuie  of  diflerence  of 
age,  more  than  of  season.  (Jerniany  has  also  its  share  of  them. 
In  Austria,  they  are  caught  an<l  fed  with  millet,  and  afford  the 
epicure  a  treat  equal  to  that  of  the  Ortolan. 

"  These  birds  ajjpear  in  the  northern  districts  of  the  United  States 


r    ;i   f 


THE  SNOW   BUNTINO. 


299 


early  in  December,  or  with  the  first  heavy  .s.iow,  partioularlv  if 
nftc    by  bi  ,     inds.   They  are  usually  cal.e.l  the  S  W^r 

dtsc  .1,0,1.     Iho.r  munbers  u.eroa.se  with  the  increasing  severity  of 
weather,  and  .h,,th  of  snow.     Flo.ks  of  then.  so.neti.Ls  reach  as 
far  south  as  the  bo.-ders  of  Ma.-yh...a ;  and  the  whiteness  of  tl.c" 
P  un.a,e  .s  ob.e..vea  to  be  greatest  towa.-ds  the  depth  of  wint 
Ihey  sp.-ead  oyer  the   Gc.esee   oou..t..y  a,.d  the   il.terior  of  t^I^ 
D.s.-.ct  o       ran.e,  tlyi..g  i..   close,  co.npact  bodies,  d.-ivi...  ab 
most  .n  a  h.gh  w  .d ;  so.neti.nes  alighti...  near  the  doo..,  bu    s 
dom  s.tln.g  Io..g,  being  a  rovi,.g,  restless  bird.     L.   these  plent  A  1 
|-eg.ons  .vho..e  ,no..e  vah.able  ga.ne  is  ab,.,.,lant,  thoy  hold  out  ,.o 
ten.ptat.o..  to  the  spo,.tsn.a..  or  hunter;  a,.d,  except  the  few  caught 
by  boys  m  sna.-es,  no  oll.er  attction  is  pai.l  to  the.n.     They  a'r 

t"Z"'  ''r'f' "'"'"?' '" ''''  '"'■••'"'--•■^  "f  ---01.; 

One  of  the  ...ast  .ntell,ge..t  and  expert  hunters,  who  accompanied 
Capta.ns  Lew.s  and  Clu.-k  o..  their  expeditio,.  to  the  Paci tic  Ocean, 
n.fonns  me_  that  he  has  ..o  recollectio,.  of  seeing  these  birds  in  a" 
part  of  tl.e.r  ton.-  ,.ot  even  amo,.g  the  bleak  a..d  snowy  .-egio-.s  of 
the  S  ,,ny  Monnta.ns;  though  the  little  blue  one  was  hi  abundance. 
Ihe  Snow  I„.nt.,.g  derives  a  eo..siderable  part  of  its  food  from 
the  seeds  ot  certa...  a.p.atic  phu.ts,  which  may  be  one  reaso,.  for  its 
p.-eferru.g  these  remote  northern  cou,.tries,  so  gc.eraily  h.tersected 
w.th  streams,  po,.ds,  lakes,  and  shallow  a,-ms  of  the  sea,  that  p.oba- 
biy  abo,..,d  w.th  such  plar.ts.     In  passing  down  the  Seneca  River 
t..wa.-ds  Lake  ().,tario,  late  i..  the  n.onth  of  Oetobe.-,  I  was  s,.,- 
pnsed  by  the  appearance  of  a  la,-ge  flock  of  these  binls,  fc.lin.  on 
the  su.-face  of  the  water,  supporte.l  o..  the  tops  of  a  g.-owth  of 
we..ls  that  .-ose  from  the  botton,,  g,-owi..g  so  close  together  that  our 
boat  could  wuh  g,-eat  diflicnhy  n.ake  its  way  th.-ough  them.     Tl.ev 
were  .•unn.ng  about  whhg,vut  activity;  an.l  those  I  shot  a..d  ex- 
amined were  fille.l,  not  o..ly  will,  the  s.-eds  of  this  phu.t.  but  with', 
nu.u.te  k.nd  of  shell-fish  that  adhe.-es  to  the  leaves.     In  this  kind 
of  acjuatjc  exc,.,-sions,  they  are  dot.btless  g.-eatly  assisted  by  the 
I-gth  of  the.r  h.nd  hec.l  a..d  claws.      I  also  observed  a  few  on 
Table  Kock  above  the  Falls  of  Niaga.-a,  seemi..gly  in  search  of  the 
same  k.nd  of  food. 


'm;  ! 


:  ! 


300 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


According  to  tlu!  statenionts  of  those  tmtlers  who  have  resided 
near  IIudson'R  Hay.  the  Snow  Uimtinjijs  aro  tlie  earliest  of  their 
mi;jratn;_;  .i;;!, ;  uppeariiijj  there  about  the  11th  of  April,  stayini; 
fthom.  a  month  or  five  weeks,  and  proceedin<j  farther  north  to  breed. 
They  reiuiu  .ifjain  in  September,  stay  till  November,  when  the 
severe  frosts  drive  them  southward." 

PLECTROPHANES   LAPPONICUS.  —  .<?e%. 

Th.  iap'.und  Lonifspur. 

Emherizn  Inpporiiri,  Auduhnn.     Orn.  liiofj.,  IV.  (1S38)  472. 
Pkclrophanes  liippnnicui,  "  St'll)y."     Hon.  Li8t  (1838). 

DKscmPTroN. 

Firsf  finill  Innffpst;  Ii'^s  l.luck;  liciul  all  roiinil  Mack,  this  oxtondinf^  ns  a  «omi- 
circiilar  patch  to  tho  upper  part  of  hrcast;  sides  of  lower  neck  and  under  jinrts 
M-hite,  with  Mack  streaks  on  the  sides,  and  spots  on  the  side  of  the  breast;  a  short 
lirownish-white  streak  hack  of  the  eye;  a  broad  chestnut  collar  on  the  back  of  tlie 
neck;  rest  of  upper  parts  brownish-yellow,  .streaked  with  dark -brown;  outer  tail 
feathers  white,  except  on  the  basal  portion  of  the  inner  web. 

This  species  is  very  sr'Moni  seen  in  full  sprini,'  pluniap'  in  the  United  State.s.  In 
perfect  dress,  the  lilack  of  the  throat-probably  extends  further  down  over  the  breast, 
In  winter,  tho  black  is  more  or  less  concealed  by  whitish  tips  to  the  feathers  beneath, 
and  by  yellowish-brown  on  the  crown.  Some  fall  specimens,  npparenllv  females, 
.show  no  black  whatever  on  tho  throat,  which,  with  the  undcv  parts  generally,  are 
dull-white,  with  a  short  bl.ick  streak  on  each  side  of  the  throat. 

I.en<;th,  about  six  and  twenty-tive  one-hundredths  inches;  winp,  three  and 
ninety  one-hundredths;   tail,  two  and  eif,dit  one-hundredths. 

This  bird  is  found  oidy  as  an  extroinoly  rare  wlntor 
visitor  in  Now  Eiitrland.  T  liavo  never  known  of  nioro  tlian 
a  dozen  being  taken  liero,  and  those  were  in  scattered  par- 
ties of  two  or  three  in  tlie  winter  of  1S;')7.  I  know  nothiii" 
Avhatever  of  its  habits,  and  can  give  no  description,  from  my 
own  observation,  of  its  nests  and  eggs.  We  are  informed 
by  Dr.  Richardson,  that  it  breeds  in  tlio  moist  meadows  on 
tlie  .shores  of  tlie  Arctic  .^ea.  Tlie  nest  is  placed  on  a  smnll 
liilloek,  among  moss  and  stones  ;  is  composed  e.xtoniiiliy 
of  the  dry  stems  of  grass,  interwoven  to  a  considerable 
thickness  ;  and  lined,  very  neatly  and  compactly,  with  deer's 
hair.  The  eggs,  usually  seven,  aro  palo  ochre-yellow, 
sjjotted  with  brown. 


II  li 


TMK    SAVANNAH    SPARROW. 


801 


Suh-Family  Si'IZellin^,.—  ^Z/e  Sparrows. 

Hill  variable,  usimlly  ain.ost  straight;  «on,«tim..,  o„n-«.l;  commi,s„ro  Ronornllv 
m.a,ly  Mra.Khf,  or  .Wy  ...noave,  uppor  man.lihlc  wi.lcr  than  lower-  n  U 
expo.,.;  w,„«,  moderate,  flu.  outer  primaries  not  mnel.  roumlud,  Uil  variable- 
feet  largo;  tar«i  mostly  longer  than  the  n>i,|,|le  toe  ' 

The  spccieM  are  uH.mlly  .small,  an.l  oC  dull  eolor.  Nearly  all  are  Mreake.l  on  tho 
haeUan,,  erowu;  often  ou  the  belly.  None  of  the  United- States  speeien  h„"e  anv 
red,  lue,  or  orange ;  and  the  yellow,  when  prenent,  i,  a,  a  ^upereilhfry  streak  or  on 
the  elbow  edge  of  the  «ing.  ^        «»,  or  on 


PASSKRCULUS,  Bonafahtk. 

/';,,.,erc«/,«,  H„XArA,<TK,  Cou.p.  List  Hirds  (18,.8,     ,Type  Fnn,,illn  S.ranna.) 

Hd     moderately   couu.  ;    the    er   mau,lilde   .s„,a,ler,    both   outlines      earlv 

Mr  ,«ht;  tarsus  about  e,,ual  to  the  n.iddle  toe;  lateral  toe,  about  equal,  their  claws 
lalhuK  tar  short  of  the  n.i,ldle  one;  bind  toe  mueb  lonp-r  than  L  h.terVonr^ 
reueluuK  as  far  as  the  middle  of  the  n.id.lle  elaw;  its  elaws  n.oderatelv  eurved^ 
wn,Ks  unusually  lonj,,  reaehin.^  to  the  mi.hlle  of  the  tail,  and  ain.ost  to  the  "end  of  the 
upper  coverts;  t  e  tertu.ls  ne,.,ly  or  „uite  as  lon,^  as  the  primaries;  the  first  prin.arv 
onges  ;    the  tad  ,s  c,u,te  short,  consi.lerably  shorter  than  the  wings,  as    ..ng  a"s 

Zded".  r'f  •';;'■"  *"  •":  r"  f  ""  ™"-'-'  '^  isemarginate,andslij^.tlv 
rounded;   the  feathers  pointed  and  narrow.  " 

benel't'ir  '''"'"'"''  ''^"'''  '""'''  ""'''  '""'''  """^  "'"''''  ''™'^'''^'  "'''^'''^  «''<''>ked 


*«■  .  1  '  !■  'i.S.fi.X'HI 


V.» 


PASSEHCDLUS   S  AV  Am  A. -B^mapnrte. 

The  Savannah  Sparrow. 

Frwffilla  Savanna,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  III.  (1811)  55.     And.  Om    Bioir     II 
(1834)63;  V.  (1839),  516.  •  ""•  v^rn.  iJiog.,  ii. 

I'dsseixulus  Savanna,  Ilonnparte.    List  (1838). 

Description. 

Feathers  of  the  upper  parts  generally  with  a  central  streak  of  black ish-brown; 
the  streaks  of  the  back  w<th  a  slif;ht  rufous  suflusion  h.terallv;  the  feathers  e.l.^e, 
«.th  Kr:.y,  which  is  light..!  on  the  scapulars;  crown  with  a  broa.I  medum  stripe  of 
yel  ow.sh-gray;  a  superciliary  .streak  fn.m  the  bill  to  the  back  of  the  head,  evelids 
aud.dge„f  the  elbow,  yellow;  a  yellowish-white  maxillary  .stripe  .  t.rying  behind 
ih.  .r  coverts,  and  margined  aboye  and  below  by  bn.wn;  the  lower  nu.rgin  is  a 
so,„.s  of  thuk ly  crowded  spots  on  the  sules  of  the  throat,  which  are  also  found  on 
he  s.des  ot  the  neck,  across  the  upper  part  of  the  breast,  and  on  the  sides  of  the 
body;  a  few  spots  on  the  throat  and  chin;  rest  of  under  parts  white;  outer  tail 
feather  and  prmiary  edged  with  white. 

Length,  fiye  and  fifty  one-h.mdredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  eeventy  one-hun- 
dredths  inches;  tan,  two  and  ten  one-hundredtlis  inches. 


; .'! 


mi\ 


im 


!j 


fT'' 


'    S 


802 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOOY. 


This    l)ir(l 


to    1) 


ith 


rly 


aoein.s 
tlirouj^'liout  Now  p]iijrluii(l  in  iho  smmnor  soasoii.     In  tho 
eastern   part   of  Mussucliiisetts,  it   is   (luito   common;    in 
the  M-estern  part,  "  chiefly  a  spring,'  and  summer  visitant," 
hut  "not  common."     Mr.  Allen  lias  novor  found  it  breod- 
ill^^  in  (he  nei«riihorhood  of  Sprin^'lield;  but,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  seacoast  in  the  same  State,  i!   is  abjindant  in 
the  breeding  season.     On  the  contrary,  in  Maine,  it  is  not 
at  all  counnon  near  the  soacoast;  but  in  Ihe  interior,  evoii 
as  far  as  the  western  borders,  it  is  one  of  the  most  plentiful 
of  Sparrows.     It  arrives  in  Massachusetts  as  early  as  the 
first  week  in  April ;  in  Maine,  seldom  before  the  middle  of 
that  month.     Alioiit  the  first  week  in  May  in  Massacluiscti? 
and  later  as  we  advance  north,  the  birds  commence  build- 
mg'.     The  ucst  is  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  under  a 
tusHock  of  grass:    it  is  constructed   of   fine  grasses  and 
roots,  wliich  are  bent  and  twined  together  rather  neatly; 
and  the  whole  is  liiuMl  with  hairliko  roots  and  lino  grass. 
The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number,  grayish-white  in  color, 
and  covered  irregularly  with  spots  of  umlter-brown  and  lilac. 
Their  form  varies  from  long  and  slender  to  quite  short 
and  thick:  their  dimensions  vary  from  .70  by  .00  to  .72  by 
.58  inch.     Two  broods  are  often  reared  in  the  season.     This 
species  rather  prefers  j)a8turcs  and  fields  at  a  distance  from 
houses  for  a  home  to  their  more  immediate  ueighI)orhood. 

On  tlio  soal)oard,  this  species  is  most  often  found  on  or 
near  the  sandy  beaches,  where  it  is  observed  busily  glean- 
ing, in  the  seaweed  and  little  bunches  of  beach-grass,  the 
insects  and  mollusks  that  are  found  there.  In  the  interior, 
it  prefers  the  dry,  sandy  fields  and  pastures,  where,  running 
about  with  great  rapidity,  its  white  outer  tail  feathers  spread, 
it  is  always  industrious  in  its  search  for  coleopterous  insects 
and  seeds. 

The  female,  when  the  nest  is  approached,  leaves  it,  and 
runs  limping  off,  her  wings  extended,  uttering  the  chatter- 
ing cry  peculiar  to  the  Sparrows. 


THE   GRA88    FINCH. 


303 


Tlio  malo,  during  tlio  mating  and  the  early  part  of  the 
brooding  season,  has  a  very  sweet  and  pretty  song  wliieli  Iio 
chants  most  often  at  morning  and  early  evening,  and  during 
dark  and  cloudy  vvciatluM". 

This  song  is  difHcult  of  description :  it  resembles  nearly 
the  syllables  'cheivi^e  'ehewltt  'cImvUt  'chrwltf,  'cheivcrt  'chewde, 
uttered  slowly  and  plaintively.  It  has  also  a  short  chirp' 
quite  faint,  yet  shrill,  which,  as  Mr.  Nuttall  truly  remarks, 
almost  exactly  resembles  the  chirping  of  a  cricket. 

About  the  first  week  in  ()et()l)er,  this  species  gathers  in 
small,  detached  ilocks;  and,  after  fre(pienting  the  stubble- 
lields  and  gardens  a  week  or  two,  the  whole  leave  for  the 
South. 

POOC.ETES,  IJAiiin. 

Hill  rnthcr  Inr^c ;  uppor  outline  slif;l,tly  dwurvcl  tnwnnis  tlic  on.I,  lower  straiKlit  • 
coniniisHure  slinl.tly  c.tuave;  tarsus  nl)out  e.iual  to  tliu  nii.l,lie  toe;  outer  toe  n 
little  lotijrer  ti.un  the  inner,  itn  ilaw  renehi.iK  to  tlio  eoneeal..!  l.ase  of  tiie  middle 
elaw;  hind  too  renehinfj  to  the  niid.Ue  of  the  middle  elaw;  win-H  unusually  lonj; 
reachiuK  to  (he  n.iddle  of  the  tail,  as  far  as  the  eoverts,  and  pointed,  the  primarieH 
.unsideral.ly  loii-er  than  the  secondaries,  which  are  not  much  surpassed  by  the 
lertianes;  seeoiul  an<l  third  (|uills  longest;  first  little  shorter,  about  equal  to  the 
fourth,  shorter  than  the  tail;  the  outer  feathers  scarcely  sluuter;  the  feathers  rather 
stitr,  each  one  acuminate  and  sharply  poiute.l;  the  fathers  broad  marlv  to  the  end, 
wlu^n  they  are  obli.pudy  truncate;  streaked  with  br.iwii  above  everywhere;  beneath^ 
on  the  breast  and  sides;  the  lateral  tail  feather  is  white. 

POOCiETES    GRAMINEUS.  -  liairtl. 

The  Grass  Finch;  Bay-winged  Bunting. 

FrinfiUln  r,rnmlnen,  Gmelin.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  022.  Aud.  Orn.  Dioir  I 
(1831)47:);  V.  502. 

Emherizn  graminen,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  lY.  (1811)  61. 

DEsciumoK. 

Tail  feathers  r.nther  acute;  above  liirht  yellowish-brown;  the  feathers  everywhere 
streaked  abruptly  with  dark-brown,  even  on  the  sides  of  the  neck,  which  arc"  i.aler: 
beneath  yellowish-white;  on  the  breast  and  sides  of  neck  and  b,„lv  sinaked  with' 
bniwn:  a  faint  lij;ht  superciliary  aiul  maxillary  stripe;  th..  latter  mar-ined  above 
and  below  with  dark-brown;  the  upper  stripe  contimied  around  the  ear  coverts, 
which  are  darker  thai;  the  brown  color  elsewhere;  winps  with  the  shoidder  light 
chestnut-brown,  and  with  two  dull-whitish  bands  along  the  ends  of  the  coverts;  the 
outer  edge  of  the  secondaries  also  is  white;  outer  tail  feather,  and  edge  and  tip 
of  the  second,  white. 


if-flf" 


•    t 

liJ  10 

I  f  I 


i>':!^.r 


if! 


804 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


n 


LoMfrfh,  about  six  and  twenty-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  t.n 
one-huiidredths  inches.  ^'  ""  "" 

// '4.  -  United  States  from  Atlantic  u,  the  Pacific;  or  else  one  species  to  the  h;,., 
central  plain.,  and  another  from  this  to  th.  Pacific.  ^  ' 

This  Sparrow  is  abundantly  distributed  tlu-oughout  New 
England  m  the  breeding  season.     It  arrives  about  tlio  first 
week  in  April,  and  commences  building  about  the  last  of 
that  month  in  Massachusetts ;    in  Maine,  about  the   first 
of  June.     The  nest,  like  that  of  the  preceding  species  is 
built  m  open,  dry  pastures  and  fields,  at  the  foot  of  a  tuft 
of  grass,  and  is  comj)osed  of  the  same  materials  and  con 
structed  m  the  same  form  as  the  others ;  and  I  would  here 
reniark,  that,  of  our  New-England  sparrows,  it  is  impossible 
to  distinguish  most  species,  cither  in  manner  and  material 
of  nest,  and  form  and  color  of  eggs,  in  the  great  variations 
winch  exist  ,n  them.     The  descriptions  already  given  and 
those  which  follow,  arc  ma.le  from  the  average  specimens 
or  m   the  forms  in  which  they  are  most  often  met.     The' 
eggs  of  the  Grass  Finch  are  usually  about  four  in  nnirber  • 
tliey  are  of  a  grayish,  livid-white  color,  and  marked  irrecru! 
lar  y  with  s,.ots  of  obscure  brown,  over  which  arc  blotches 
01  black.     Dimensions  of  s])ecimcns  from  various  localities 
vary  from  .88  by  .GO  to  .70  by  .58  incli.     Two  broods,  and 
sometimes  throe,  arc  reared  in  the  season. 

Tlie  haljits  of  this  and  the  succeeding  species  so  much 
resemble  those  of  the  preceding,  that  it  is  difiicult  to 
describe  cither  so  that  they  may  be  readily  recognized 
Ihe  present  bird  is  more  civilized  in  its  habits,  and  usually 
resides  much  nearer  the  habitations  of  man  than  the  others  • 
but  in  other  respects  it  resembles  them  in  all  their  charac- 
teristics. 


COTURNICULUS,  Honai-akte. 

m'Z^'r  '^"^l"'^"'^'^'  f-"^-  I-t  (1^38)-     (Type  Fruu;illnpasserina,  Wils.) 

wh       i  ?      f  T,    ■^'"""  ""^  """•"  "'""""''«  ''^•""^--  "•"  '"--  than  the  „pp,  r, 
!''    '        "'"^"™'">''^""^'''''  «'  t'-  ''-al  portion  of  its  .npcr  outline,  lo^^s   no, 
erate,  apparently  not  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  tail;  the  tarsus  appreci^b  ^  lo  1  r 


I 


THE   YELLOW-WINGED   SPARROW. 


805 


I 


orfnAr-r', '"'"*""'  '""  "'"^''  "'"^^^''h  their  claws  falling  decidedly 

1  o     ot    he  n,u  .1  e  claw,  the  hind  toe  internu-iiate  between  the  two,  the  T^Zl 

hort  and  rounded,  reaching  to  the  base  of  the  tail,  the  tertiaries  almost  a    212 

e  prnnanes,  not  much  difference  in  the  lengths  of  the  primaries,  a  thongM," 

outc    thnoorfour  are  .slightly  graduated,  the  tail  is  short  and  narrow  d  cide  i^ 

shorter  than  the  wing,  graduated  laterally,  but  slightly  emarginaterurfea^  ^ 

lanceolate  and  acute,  but  not  stiifened,  as  in  AmmodroL^. 

very  wii'eMhrbT..'T""f  "■  r"  ''""'"'"  ^'"  '""'''''''  «"  *"°  -^--apular  region 

COTUENICULUS  VASSEm^VS.  ~  Bmapavte. 
The  Yellow-winged  Sparrow. 

iim't:y:::r'  ''^"""-  ^'"-  '^"•'  "^-  ^^^"^  ''■  ^^'-  «-•  bios.,  n. 

CotuniiciilM  jxisserina,  Bonaparte.    List  (18,38) 
1840rSr  ^^"'''""'"'"'"  '^""-'""''  ^^^""""-     Man.,  L   (1832)  494.    /i.   (2d  ed., 

DEscRimox. 

Fcnthers  pf  the  upper  parts  brownish-rufous,  margined  narrowly  and  abruptly 
V  th  a.sh-color;  reddest  on  the  lower  part  of  the  back  and  rump;  the  featherfaU 
a  rupty  black  n,  the  central  portion,  this  color  visible  ou  the  inte^capular  region 
where  the  r„  ..us  ,s  „,ore  restricted,  crown  blackish,  with  a  central  and  superciliary 
stnpe  of  ye  low,sh  t.nged  with  brown,  brightest  in  front  of  the  eve,  beml  o  t  fe 
vn,g  bnght,vellow,  lesser  coverts  tinged  with  grcenish-ydlow;  r.uilis  and  tad 
ea  hers  edge.l  w.th  whitish,  tertiaries  n.uch  vari.,cate.l ,' lower  parts  brow'dsh- 
jelow  nearly  wh„e  on  the  middle  of  the  belly,  the  feathers  of  the  upper  breast 
and  si.les  oi  the  body  with  obsoletely  darker  centres. 

;„,!;!'"""''  "'"""  "'"  ""'"■'''  ''"'"'  *'''°  '""^  *"'""'■'  '^"^-•'"ndredths  inches,  tail,  two 
The  young  of  this  species  has  the  upper  part  of  the  breast  streaked  with  black 
much  ,no,e  d,stn,ct  than  in  the  adult,  and  exhibiting  a  close  resemblance  to  C.  llj. 

Specimens  from  the  Far  West  have  the  reddish  of  the  back  considerablv  paler- 
the  hght  stnpe  on  the  head,  with  scarcely  any  yellow,   a  .lecided  spot  in  fro, 
ot  the  eye  quite  yellow.  '  ^ 

This  bird  is  irregularly  distributed.  In  Massachusetts  it 
i«  rai-e  near  the  seacoast,  hut  in  the  western  part  is  au 
^'  abundant  summer  visitant ;  arrives  about  the  first  week 
111  -Afay,  and  leaves  in  autumn  tlie  earliest  of  the  Sparrows." 
—  Alle\.  It  is  not  included  in  Mr.  VerriU's  li.st  of  Maine 
l)irds ;  and  I  have  never  met  with  it  in  that  State  or  the 
other  two  northern  ones,  although  it  probably  occurs  there 

20  ' 


l!> 


il 

1  fTTf 

' 

'    •!' 

.,H 

'A 

•  M 

306 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


'     : 

f     1'        [,J     .  I 

! 

imMB^mt. 

but  not  abundantly.  The  nest  is  built,  like  the  two  preced- 
ing species,  on  the  ground,  in  the  same  localities,  and  of  the 
same  materials  ;  but  the  eggs  are  different,  being  pure-white 
in  color,  with  thinly  scattered  spots  of  reddish-brown :  they 
are  usually  five  in  number,  and  their  dimensions  vary  from 
.78  by  .60  to  .74  by  .58  inch.  Two  broods  are  often  reared 
in  the  same  season.  Its  habits  are  similar  to  those  of  the 
Savannah  Sparrow. 

COTURNICUTjUS  UE^SLO-Wl.— Bonaparte. 

Henslow's  Bunting. 

Emieriza  ITemhtci,  AaAuhon.    Orn.  Bio,<;.,  L  (1831)360.    Nutt.  Man.,  L  (1832) 
App. 

CotiiniUulits  Ihiislmri,  Bonaparte.     List  (1838).     lb.,  Consp.  (1850).  481. 
Frinijilla  Ihiisloici,  Niittiill.     Jlaii.,  L  {2d  ed.,  1840)  571. 

]»Ksci;ii'ri()N. 

Upper  parts  yellowish-brown ;  tiie  head,  neck,  and  upper  parts  of  back  tinged 
with  greenisli-yellow;  interscapular  feathers  dark -brown,  sufi'dsed  externallv  witli 
bright  brownish-red;  each  te.ither  with  grayish  borders:  terliarics,  rump,  and  tail 
feathers  abruptly  dark-biown  centrally,  tlie  color  obscurely  margined  with  dark-red' 
crown  with  a  broad  black  spotted  stripe  on  each  side,  these  spots  continued  down 
to  the  back;  two  narrow  black  nuixillary  stripes  on  each  side  the  head,  ami  an 
obscure  black  crescent  beliind  the  auriculars;  under  parts  light  brownish-yellow 
paler  on  the  throat  and  abdomen;  the  ujiper  [lart  of  the  breast,  and  the  sides  of  the 
body,  conspicuously  streaked  with  black;  edge  of  wing  yellow;  a  strong  tinge  of 
pale-chestnut  on  the  wings  and  tail. 

Length,  live  and  twenty-live  one-linndredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  tiftoen  nne- 
hundredths  inches;  tail,  two  and  liliteen  one-hundredihs  inches. 

This  bird  is  an  extremely  rare  summer  resident  in  New 
England.  It  can  hardly  be  called  any  thing  hut  a  strag- 
gler, and  ^Massachusetts  seems  to  be  its  extreme  northern 
limit. 

It  has  been  found  breeding  near  Lynn  in  this  State,  and 
at  Berlin  (Proc.  Boston  Soc.  Nat.  Hist.,  Vll.  p.  187). 
Allen  captured  a  male  at  Springfield  on  May  18,  18r.:3,  iuid 
heard  another  at  the  same  place  in  Juno.  These  few 
instances  are  all  that  I  have  heard  of  its  occurrence  here. 
Of  its  habits  I  know  nothing. 


THE  SHARP-TAILED   FIN'CH. 


AMMODROMUS,  Swainson. 


307 


J.^ro..s,   S...0.  Zoo,,  .ou,  „,   ...     ,^,    .....  .^,„,, 

'■■'"^^'•al  toes  equal,  ,l„.i,.  elaws  fallin. ?„,    d,r  h       ,  ""*^'*"'  ""■""'"  *"^---  *''« 

'---•  "•«  ''i,u.  elaw  ec,„al  to  tl.o      era   „        w  ,'"'  °'  ""  ""''  "'  ^''«  "'">'"« 

'"■  «-  <-l ;  .nuch  rounded ;  the  s       .     ,"  In      'T  ;"''  '""■'"■"^'  ••"'-^'  '^^  "^  l""- 
">an  the  primaries;  the  tai   is  Lort     n  "''  ••'^"«'' ""'l  ""t  much  shorter 

lanceolate,  and  acute.  '  ""^'  ^"'""""''^'^  ''^"^™"3-,  each  feather  sti/Fened 

AMMODfiOMUS   CAUDACUTUS.  -  5.W„«„„. 
The  Sharp-tailed  Finch. 
Oriohs  caudncutus.    Gm.,  I.  (1788)  304 

asL'rrrv";.'"- "'"- •^-  "-■  "■•  '-■■>  ™-  a,,.,,  o„.  i,,..,,,,, 

'  """"■'  """""■'■  ■•>■ "• '' ■■  ( .«•; '  .i;s':r.s... .», 

Deschiption. 
lJPI>t'r  parts  hrownisli-olivaceous-    hp,„i  i>,       •  . 

-i'-Hliaryand  nu.xiih.ry  ■ -ripe,  and  a    nnd      t      t   "'  '"''   ''"•'^^'   '^  ^'-'l 
>l.e  sides  of  the  throat  with  a  l,ro„,,  J  ,,  '      ,1  "''""■  '"■^^'■"''  l'"«VeiI«w; 

J':r:;j;i:::::xc;;.:",;' x;'^^^  -'•  r^'  ^-^  ^--s  o„  the 

I-Mffth,  tive  inches;  wins  tw.      d     ,'         '^  "  ""  ^"''•''•'''  ''''»"'&• 

/A'*.  -  Atlantic  Co.t  of^i,!;  rXd'S^ii::"^-"""^'^"""^  *-"- 

ci.f  Ttl't:?"^^^'^  ^''^  ^^^"■^'--  ^"-^  of  this  spe- 
t-K^s.     Ill  tins  Mate  aiK    t  lost^  snnfl.   ,'f  ,-.       .l  ' 


i|;f 


^f;« 


CW 


LP  1 


308 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


number.  Tlioir  color  is  a  bluish-whito,  wlucli  is  covovod 
witli  fine  brown  dots :  tlicso  dots  are  coarser  in  some  si)eci- 
inons,  and  almost  confluent  near  tbe  greater  end.  Dimen- 
sions vary  from  .80  by  .64  incli  to  .70  by  .60  inch.  But  one 
brood  is  generally  reared  in  the  season  in  this  latitude. 

The  description,  by  Wilson,  of  the  habits  of  the  Seaside 
Finch  is  so  applicable  to  this  species,  that  I  give  it  here: 
"  It  inhabits  the  low,  rush-covered  sea  islands  along  our 
Atlantic  Coast,  wliere  I  first  found  it;  keeping  almost  con- 
tinually within  tlie  boundaries  of  tide-water,  except  when 
long  and  violent  east  and  north-easterly  storms,  witli  higli 
tides,  compel  it  to  seek  the  shore.  On  these  occasions,  it 
courses  along  the  margin,  and  among  the  holes  and  inter- 
stices of  the  weeds  and  sea-wrack,  with  a  rapidity  equalled 
only  by  the  nimblest  of  our  Sand-pipers,  and  very  much  in 
their  manner.  At  those  times,  also,  it  roosts  on  the  ground, 
and  runs  about  after  dusk. 

"  Tliis  si)ecies  derives  its  whole  subsistence  from  the  sea. 
I  examined  a  great  number  of  individuals  by  dissection, 
and  found  their  stomaclis  universally  filled  with  fragments 
of  shrimps,  minute  shell-fisli,  and  broken  limbs  of  small 
sea-crabs.  Its  flesh,  also,  as  was  to  bo  expected,  tasted  of 
fish,  or  what  is  usually  termed  sedgy.  Amidst  the  re- 
cesses of  these  wet  sea-marshes,  it  seeks  the  rankest  growth 
of  grass  and  seaweed,  and  climbs  along  the  stalks  of  the 
rushes  with  as  much  dexterity  as  it  runs  along  the  ground, 
which  is  rather  a  singular  circumstance,  most  of  our 
climbers  being  rather  awkward  at  running." 


AMMODEOMUS   MAEITIMUS. 
The  Seaside  Finch. 


-  Sivainson. 


Fritiffilla  mnrilima,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IV.  ( 1811 )  68.    And.  Orn.  Uiog.,  I.  (1831). 
AmmiKlrimms  iniiritlmHs,  Swainson.     Zoiil.  .lour,  HI.  (1S27)  ;i2S. 
FriiH/HI'i  (Amnwdivims)  mnritimn,  Nuttall.     Man.,  I.  (M  ed.,  1840)  592. 
Friiif/lllii  Miicgillivrayi,  Audubon.     Orn.  Hiog.,  II.  (1834)  285;  IV.  (1838)  394; 
V.  (183U)  499. 

Frinyilla  {Ammodromtts)  Macgillkratfi,  Xuttall.    Man.,  I.  (2d  ed.,  1840)  593. 


THE   WHITE-CROWNED   SPARROW. 


809 


Deschiption. 

hrcH^Z  "";y,«""^'^7"-n'  ''o"-'"'  >vhite;  the  breast  and  sides  of  body  yellowish- 
bro    „,  obso  etely  streaked  with  ..luP.beous;  sides  of  head  and  body,  a  It  a!        pe 

ZJ:^:^:  :,  "-f  "^^-'['P'V  '-I  -'i^'i-et  Io„,itudi,i  strea  Jlnl 

^  0^;;.;?    ",-,  7  "'"'  *'"  ^'■""'  'i"«^dwith  yellowish;  the  maxillavv 

s  iipt  cuts  .11  a  wlute  „„e  above  .t;  a  sui.ereiliary  stripe  is  bright-yellow  anterior  t"o 
the  eye  and  „lu.nbeous  above  and  behind  it;  edfie  of  win,  vetow;  bill  bine 
Ltnyth,  about  s.x  inches ;  winy,  two  and  litly  one-huudredths  inches. 

This  bird's  habits  and  distribution  are  the  same  as  tliose 
of  tlie  preceding  sj.ecies,  as  also  are  tlie  nests  and  eo-s 
winch  are  impossible  of  identification  when  j^aced  side^'bv 
side.  -^ 

ZONOTKICIIIA,  SwAiNsoN. 

ZonotricMa,  Swa.nsox,  Fauna  lior.  An..,  IL  (1831).    rXype  Emheriza  leucoph;js.) 
Body  rather  stout ,  bill  conical,  slightly  notched,  somewhat  con.pressed,  excavated 
msule;  the  lower  mandible  rati,er  lower  than  the  upper;  gonv    sli«h  l"  2eK 
comnnssure  nearly  straight ;    feet  stout;  tarsus  ra.her  longer  than  n.hid  the 

lateral  to<^  ven-  nearly  e,,ual;  hind  toe  longer  than  the  lateral  ones,  thei   clI^J 
reac  n,,.  to  base  of  nnddle  one;  inner  claw  contained  twice  in  its  t  e  prope  ;  claw 
ah  s  ender  and  -onsulerably  curved ;  winfrs  moderate,  not  reaching  to   be  n.i  1,  le  ot 
the  tad,  bu    beyond  the  run.p;   secondaries  and  ter.ials  c.ual  and  consicler  biy  es 

than  lon^^estprnnanes;  second  and  third  ,uills  longest;  hrst, nt  equal  t.thtih 

much  lon...r  than  tcrt.als;  tail  ra.her  1,„„,  nuKler.tely  rounded;  .  e  featrrs  not 
very  broad;  b.ck  str.a  cd;  run.p  and  under  parts  immaculate;  head  black  owS 
white  streak.s,  entirely  dilicrent  from  the  back. 


ZONOTEICHIA  LEUCOPHEYS.  -  .S,,„/„,„„. 
The  White-c-owned  Sparrow. 

Onf  ??!tl^n  )t'''''  '""'"•     '"'■'"  ■'""•"""••  ''^"-  (^' '^)  2^2'  '*2«.    Wils.  Am. 
Frhuiilh,  (Z„.„triM„)  hucophry,,  Swainson.     V.  n.  Am.,  I[.  (1831)  255 
ynH-//«a/c«c<y//„.^.,,  Audubon.    Orn.  lii„g.,  n.  (IS34)  8S;  V.  515. 

Desciuption, 

II.  ad  above,  upper  half  of  loral  region  fron,  the  bill.  ;.„d  a  narrow  line  ,b,.„„.^h 
and  behind  the  eye  t.,  the  occiput,  black;  a  lon.^itu.linal  patch  in  the  middle        h 
crown,  and  a  short  line  from  above  the  anterior  corner  of  ,he  eve,  the  t  „   u 

on  the  occipu.  white;  sides  „f  ,he  h.-ad,  fore  part  of  breast,- ad  lower    1     k  a 
roimd.  ,.N.  .,..  ,,,,„est  beneath  and  shading  insensibly  into  t  e  whitti      '        beUv 
an.l  •  ,n;  .de.  o,  belly  and  imder  tail  coverts  ,in«ed  with  yelfowish-b    w    !  i   t"^ 
capillar  r >,,o„  streaked  broadly  with  .lark  chestnut-brownish ,  edges  o.   h     e'r.  "  ^ 
brovvuish-.  hestnut ;  two  white  bands  on  the  win-.  tcrtm.ice 


■|  ;  .  J  n  '  i 


310 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY, 


Femnlo  similar,  but  smnllor;  immntiire  male  with  the  blai  k  of  the  hoail  rophiocd 
.  by  dark  chestiuit-browii,  tlie  white  tinged  with  brownish-yellow. 

The  white  of  the  erowii  sc'iiarates  two  black  lines  on  either  sides,  rather  narrower 
than  itself;  the  black  line  behind  the  eye  is  eoutinued  antiTior  to  it  into  the  biiiek 
at  the  base  of  the  bill;  the  lower  eyelid  is  white;  there  are  some  oliscure  eloMdliigs 
of  darker  on  the  neek  al)ove;  the  rump  is  iuimaeulate;  no  white  on  the  tail,  except 
very  obscure  tips;  the  white  crosses  tlu>  ends  of  the  middle  and  (jfreater  coverts. 

Lengtli,  seven  and  ten  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  twenty-live  onc- 
hnndrcdtiis. 

TIlis  boautiriil  bird  is  a  rare  spring  and  autumn  visitor 
ill  Now  England.  It  arrivos  about  tlio  first  week  in  liluy, 
sometimes  as  late  as  the  20th  of  that  month,  and  returns' 
from  the  North  about  the  lOtli  of  Oetober.  While  with 
i.s,  it  has  all  the  habits  of  the  succeeding  species,  witli 
which  it  usually  associates. 

The  ibilowing  description  of  its  breeding  habits,  nest,  and 
eggs,  is  given  l)y  Audubon:  — 

"  One  day,  while  near  American  Harbor,  in  Labra.lor,  I  observed 
.<<  pair  of  these  birds  resorting  to  a  small  'Imnunock'  of  lirs,  where 
I  concluded  they  must  have  hod  a  nest.     After  searching  in  vain,  I 
intimated  my  suspicion  to  my  young  frien.ls,  when  we  all  crept 
through  the  tangled  brandies,  and  examined  tiie  place  without  sue- 
cess.  .  .  .  Our  disap])oiiitmeiit  was  the  greater,  that  we  saw  the 
male  bird  frequently  flying  about  with  food  in  his  bill,  no  doubt 
inteiided  for  his  mate.     In  a  short  while,  the  pair  came  near  us, 
and  both  were  shot.     In  the  female  we  found  an  egg,  which  was 
pure-white,  but  with  the  shell  yet  soft  and  thin,     fhi  the  Cth  of 
-Iiiiy,  while  my  son  was  creeping  among  some  low  bushes  to  get  a 
shot  at  some  Ked-throated  Divers,  he  accidentally  startcl  a  female 
from  her  nest.     It  made  nuich  complaint.     The  nest  was  placed  in 
the  moss,  near  the  foot  of  a  low  fir,  and  was  formed  externally  of 
beautiful  dry  green  moss,  matted  in  bunches,  like  the  coarse  hair, 
of  some  quadnipe.l;   internally  of  very  fine  dry  grass,   arranuf.l ' 
with  great  neatness  to  the  thickness  of  lu-arly  hiilf  an  inch,  with  a 
fu!!   lining  of  delicate  fibrous  roots  of  a  rich  transparent  vellow. 
It  was  five  inches  in  diameter  externally,  two  in  depth  ;  two  and  a 
quarter  in  diameter  within,  although  rather  oblong,  and  one  and 
three-quarters  deep.     In  one  nest,  we  found  a  single  feather  of  the 


Willow  Grouse.     The  eggs,  five  in  number,  average  seveii-ei-rli 


lis 


THE   WHITE-THROATED   SPARROW. 


811 


of  an  incli  in  length,  are  proportionally  broad,  of  a  light  sea-green 
color,  mottled  toward  the  larger  end  with  brownish  spots"  and 
blotclies ;  a  few  spots  of  a  lighter  tint  being  dispersed  over  the 
whole.  ...  We  found  many  nests,  wliich  were  all  placed  on  the 
ground  or  among  tlie  moss,  and  were  all  constructed  alike.  This 
species  deposit  their  eggs  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  June. 
In  the  beginning  of  August,  I  saw  many  young  that  were  able  to 
fly ;  and,  by  the  twelftli  of  tliat  month,  tlie  birds  had  already  com- 
menced their  southward  migration.  The  young  follow  their  parents 
until  nearly  full  grown. 

"  The  food  of  this  species,  while  in  Labrador,  consists  of  small 
coleopterous  insects,  grass  seeds,  an.l  a  variety  of  berries,  as  well 
as  some  mimite  shell-fish,  for  wliich  they  fre(piently  search  the  mar- 
gins of  ponds  or  the  seashore.  At  the  approach  of  autumn,  they 
pursue  insects  on  the  wing  to  a  short  distance,  and  doubtless  secure 
some  in  that  manner." 

The  song  of  the  White-crowned  Sparrow  consists  of  six 
or  seven  notes,  the  first  of  wliich  is  loud,  clear,  and  musi- 
cal, altliougli  of  a  plaintive  nature  ;  tlie  next  broader,  less 
(irm,  and  seeming  merely  a  second  to  the  first;  the  rest 
lorni  a  cadence,  diniinishing  in  power  to  the  last  note,  which 
sounds  as  if  the  final  eriint  of  the  musician.     These  notes 

are  repeated  at  short  intervals  during  the  whole  day, even 

on  those  dismal  days  produced  by  the  thick  fogs  of  the 
country  where  it  breeds,  and  where  this  species  is,  of  all, 
the  most  almndant. 


'Jt 


ZONOTHICHIA  ALBICOLLIS.  ~  Bonnj, arte. 

The  White-throated  Sparrow ;  Peabody  Bird. 

Fi-imjilla  (iIIhcIIU,  Ciiiulin.  Syst.  Xat.,  I.  tl7S8)  026.  Wils.  Am  Orn  III 
(1811)  r.l,  ■         .,      '. 

/.imiiti'ifhii  nUncdllif,  Hnnap.     Coiisp.  (1850),  478. 

FniKjilla  PcniwjlvdiHca,  Audubon.     Orn.  Hioj;.,  I.  (1831)  42;  V.  497. 

DESCRtmON. 

Two  blaok  stripos  on  the  crown  nqmrat^d  by  a  median  one  of  whlto;  abroad 
Mip.  iv.liaiy  stripe  from  thf  base  of  tlie  mandible  to  the  oeciput,  yellow  as  far  as 
the  middle  of  the  .ye  ami  white  behind  this;  a  broad  bkek  streak  on  the  side  of  the 


312 


ORNITIIOLOUY   AND   OOLOGY. 


tno  SHie,  of  thfi  head  nn.l  upper  part  .,f  tho  broast,  fa.lii>K  into  white  o„  tl>e  h.lK- 
an.l  .na^.„ea  ,y  a  narrow  hiaek  ...axilhuy  ,i,.e ;  e.^e  of  ^i,,,  an,,  axiih^i,      •  '. 

back  and  edges  of  seeondar.es  rnfous-ln-own,  the  Conner  .streaked  with  .h.rk-'brown-' 
two  narrow  white  hands  neross  the  win-  coverts.  ' 

I'Vnn.h,  Mnaller,  and  the  eolor.  mther  duller.    Immature  and  winter  .peein.en, 
me  the  win  e  enn-pat.h  less  abruptly  .lellned,  tho  white  n.arkiu.^s  on  th    top  . 
.s..l.'.s  o    the  head  tinged  with  brown.     Son.e  speein.ens,  appareu,?y  n.atnre      I     ' 
q.nte  d,stnu.t  streaks  on  the  breast,  and  sides  of  throat  a.ld  1, !.dv.  ' 

o.J;:;S::r;;:;:;!r'  ^^'"^-""^-"^  tenone-Uundredths,  t;d.,th.eand  twenty 


Tliis  beautiful  Sparrow  arrives  i»  Ma.ssacluisetts  by  tl.o 
last  week  iu  April.  It  does  not  tarry  loug,  b.it  passes 
north,  ^d  breeds  abuudaully  iu  the  northern  districts  of 

New  England.     I  l,avo 
fouiul  the  nests  as  t-arly 
as  the  last  week  in  May; 
but  generally  they  are 
not  built  before  the  lOth 
of    June.       They     are 
placed  luider  a  low  bush 
on    tho  ground,    some- 
times   in    swamps   and 
pastures,  sometimes   in 
Iiig'h  woods  and  ledu'es. 
iliey  are  constructed  of 
/inc  grasses,  twigs,  and 
-  ,  inosses,  and  lined  with 

finer  grasses,  and  sometimes  a  few  hair-like  roots.  Som. 
specunens  that  I  have  eolleete.l  in  Northern  Maine  wer..' 
pbieetl  „,  a  hollow  in  a  mo.ssy  knoll,  which  was  scratched 
by  the  birds  to  the  depth  of  the  whole  nest.     The  c-us  are 

rf 'I  'Z  "^  """'"'■  ^  ''"■"'  ''^^"^" ''  ^  ^^-^^yi^l'-whU^'  and 
na.ked  with  spots  and  confluent  l,lotches  of  brown  and 

obscure  hlae.  A  nttntber  of  specimens,  collected  in  tlilK.r- 
by  .b2  mch.    J3ut  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season.     This 


JUNCO. 


313 


bird 


is  a  groat  favorite  in  the  North,  and 


justly 


so. 


Olio  of  the  sweetest  songsters  of  tlie  localities  wl 
IS  found  ;  and,  having  no  bad  precedents  with  the  far 


It 


IS 


an 


d  be 


lore   it 


mer, 


_  ing  ol  a  sociable,  lively  disposition,  it  is  no  wonder 
tliat  it  meets  witii  great  favor. 

The  song  of  this  species  is  very  beautiful.  It  is  difficult  of 
description,  but  resembles  nearly  the  syllables  \lU'a  dee  de  • 
dcUI.dc,.de.d-de,  d^-d-de,  d^-d-de,  uttered  at  first  loud  and 
clear,  and  rapidly  falling  in  tone  and  decreasing  in  volume 

llHs  is  chanted  during  the  morning  and  tlie  latter  part  of 
the  day,  and,  in  cloudy  weatiier,  tlirough  the  whole  day  I 
have  often  heard  it  at  different  hours  of  the  night,  when 
Ihave  been  encamped  in  the  deep  forests;  and  the  effect  at 
tliat  time,  was  indescribably  sweet  and  plaintive.  The  fact 
that  the  bird  often  sings  in  the  night  has  given  it  the  name 
of  lie  -Nightingale"  in  many  localities;  and  tlie  title  is 
well  earned. 

While  in  its  spring  and  autumn  migrations,  tliis  Sparrow 
prefers  low  moist  tliickets  and  young  woods  ;  but,  in  its  sum- 
mer home,  It  IS  found  e.iually  abundant  in  fields,  pastures 
swamps,  and  forests.  ' 

It  feeds  on.insects,  various  seeds,  and  lierries,  and  some- 
times pursues  flying  insects  in  the  manner  of  the  preccdin..' 
species.  '*' 

About  the  last  week  in  October,  the  bir.ls,  after  eon-re- 
gatmg  m  l„ose  flocks  of  a  duy.on  or  fifteen,  leave  New  Eii<.-- 
laiid  for  tlieir  winter  homes.  * 

JUXCO,    WACil.KH. 

J:wro,  AVAfM.Kit,  Tsis  (IS^l).     (Ty|,..  Frhu/llla  chwre,,,  Sw  ) 

li.ll  MMull,  .nni.al;  n,l„u.>.  ourv..,l  at  the  tip;  the  Iuw.t  jaw  qnito  as  l,ij,h  a.  the 

up,»t:   ta.us  l,,,,,,.,.  than  the  .ni.U.le  toe;  outer  toe  Io,„..,.  ,han  the  .;  ,  ar    y 

-    ..|K    o  .   e  hase  o,  the  n.i.hne  ehnv ;  hind  toe  .eaehin,  as  ,ar  as  the  uM^^ 
"    •'"-' Y:^"""'"''  *;■-  '•^•"'■'■■"«  ^"""'t  to  the  ,ui,hile  of  the  tail;  „i„..  rather 
lu,rt,  reaeh,,,.  over  the  l,asal  fourth  of  ,he  expose,!  surfaee  of  the  tail-  .ni,  . 

however.  eonsi.lerahIy  longer  than  the  nearly  e,,ual  seeon.h.ries  anl    tl.  ^ 

jeemuqu.  1  longest  the  third  to  H.U.  sneeessively  hut  little  shorter;  lirst  Ion,  r'tl  a. 
.:xth,muehexeeed,ng  seeondaries;  tail  n.oderate,  a  little  shorter  than  tlu^wi   " 


1  ' 


tia  I 


',#»• 


ai4 


OnNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


II 


slightly  civmrKiiintc  anil  roiiiiilcdi  fi'iitticrs  rather  imrrow,  oviil  at  tli.<  endi  no  stnaki 
on  thr  liead  or  body;  c-oIdp  obovo  unitorni  on  thu  head,  buck,  or  rump,  wpuiatulv  or 
on  all  toffctlicr;  bdh   whitis  outer  t.iil  feathers*  white. 

The  essenliil  ehnnu  ters  of  thin  melius  are,  the  niiddhi  too  rallier  shorter  than  tho 
sliort  laisiis;  tli(.  lateral  toes  slightly  une.,ual,  tho  ontur  reaching  tho  base  of 
tho  middle  ehiw;  the  tail  u  little  .shorter  than  the  win^s,  !<hVhtlv  emarsinato.  In 
Junco  cinereiis  tho  clawg  nro  lonyor;  the  lower  mandible  a  little  lower  tlian  tliu 
tipper;  the  speeies  have  thu  upper  parts  u.^hy  or  plumbeous,  the  belly  and  lateral 
tail  feathers  white. 

JONCO  HYEUALIS.  —  ScMev. 

The  Snowbird. 

Frlnyi/ln  hiivmnlU,  Liniueus.    Syst.  Nut.,  I.  (loth  ed.,  1-.J8)  lf«3.  And.  Orn.  Biotr 
I.  (1831)  72;  V.  505.  *■■' 

Juimo  lii/imiili'n,  Stiater.     I'r.  Zool.  Soe.  (1857),  7. 
Frinyilla  uicalis.     Wils.,  II.  (ISIO)  12'J. 

I)E.S('niI'TInx. 

Kverywhero  of  a  ;,'rayish  or  dark  a,-liy-hlaek,  deepest  anteriorly;  the  niidille  of 
the  breast  behind  and  of  the  belly,  the  under  tail  eoverts,  and  lirst  a"nd  seeond  e.\ter- 
iial  tail  feathers,  white;  the  third  tail  feather  white,  niart;iiUMl  with  blaek. 

Length,  si.\  and  twenty-live  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  about  three  inehes. 

This  iutorcsting  and  well-known  little  species  is  an  iilnm- 

dant  inluihitaiit  of  New  Eng- 
land.   ]n  tlie  .spi'iiig-  it  niigratcs 
IVoin     tlie    .southern    (hslricts, 
where  it  sj)en(ls  Uie  winter,  to 
the  northci-n  sections,  and  late 
in   Tall   returns   to    its  winter 
lionie.     A  lew  j»airs  breed  in 
]\rassaehnsetts  on  the  llolyoke 
^loMiitains,  and  in  New  llaniji- 
shire  on  the  AVhite  ■Monntains  : 
Imt  the  great  nninhers  pjis.s  to 
th(^  northern  dislriets  to  s|)eii(l 
I  he  Slimmer;  and  near  the  V\\\- 
bagog  lakes,  and  north  to  the 
(-aiiada  irontier,  it  is  the  most 
eoininon  species.     I  jiave  been 
so  Cortiiiiate  as  to  (ind  a  numl)er  of  the  nests:  some  had  ego-s 
as  early  as  the  last  week  in  .May,  and  others  as  late  as  the 


Miowhird,  iiii|ici-  (If,'. 
Hoiij,'  .Sjian-ow,  lower  11;;. 


THE   SNOWBIRD. 


815 


muiaio  of  July  ;  tl.ordbro  two  broods  aro  probably  rcarod 
llio  nests  aro  construct«id  „r  lino  ^-rasHes  and  loaves,  and 
aro  plarcMl  sonx'tinieH  in  a  slijrht  h..io  scratch.Ml  in  a  mossy 
knoll,  sonirtnncs  in  an  old  stump  of  a  tree  or  in  a  tuft  of 
gn.ss  m  a  tl,i,-k..t  of  husb.vs.  The  o-ns  aro  us.mily  four  in 
JunnlM-r:  tl.cy  vary  in  color  from  nearly  pur.;-\vlntn  with 
rnldish  spots,  to  grayish-wliilo  with  reddish-brown  spots,  and 
hluish-wlnte  with  a  roseate  tint  and  spots  of  umber,  re.ldish- 
brown,  and  lilac.  Dimensions  vary  from  .70  by  ,(J0  inch  to 
.70  by  SA)  iiicli. 

The  description  by  Wilson  of  the  habits  of  this  species  is 
so  iidl  and  accurate  that  I  can  do  no  better  than  i-ive  it 
here :  — 

"Tl.is  w..ll-l<n„wn  spofi(..s,  small  an.l  in.si^mifi,.ant  as  it  may 
appear,  is  by  far  tl.e  nu,sf,  numerous,  as  u.ll  as  the  most  extensivelV 
.l.ss,.,nu.a(,..l.  of  ail  tl.o  f^atlwrnl  tribes  that  visit  us  from  ti.e  fro.eu 

n-.oi.s  of  tlu,  North, -tiu.ir  miora.ions  c.^,.. ,.  ihnn  th,.  a.rtio 

cirdc.  and  [.robably  beyond  it,  to  the  shores  of  the  (bdf  of  .Mexico 
sprea<hn,ir  over  the  whoh,  brea.hh  of  ,ho  Tuitod  States,  from  the 
Aliaiitie  Ocean  to  Louisiana;  Jiow  mndi  farther  westward.  I  .im 
"Mal.ie  to  say.     About  tho  20th  of  O.-toh.,-,  thev  make  thoir  lirst 

appearance  in  those  parts  of  INm.sylvania  east  of  llu<  Al i^uy 

Mountains.     At  first  th.y  are  nu.st  .generally  seen  on  the  honh^s 
ot  woods  among  the  falling-  and  decayed  leaves,  in  loose  tlocl^s  of 
t  nrty  or  forty  ton:..ther.  always  taking  to  the  trees  when  disturhed. 
As  tlie  weather  sots  in  eohlrr,  ilu-y  approaeli  nearer  the  fann-liou^e 
and  vdlages;  and.  on  the  appearan.v  of  what  is  usually  called  f.ll- 
n>g  weather,  assemble  in  largor  Hocks,  a.id  scorn  ,lo,d,ly  dili-cnt  in 
scarchuig  for  food.    This  increase.l  activity  is  generally  a  sn.v  ,.ro..- 
liost.c  of  a   storm.       When   de.-p  snows   cover    the   gro.u.d.   tluT 
heoome  abnost   half  don.esticated.     They  collect  about   the   h.nn 
stables,  and  otlur  ..ut-houses,  spread  over  the  vard,  and  even  round 
the  steps  ot   the  door,   not  only  in  the  countrv  and  villages,  but 
Ml  the  heart  of  our   large  cities;   erow.liug  around   the   th.v.hold 
"■urly  m  the  morni.ig.  gleaning  up  the  cnunbs  ;  app,.ariu.r  vcrv  lively 
and  fiuniliar.     They  have  also  recourse,  at  this  severe  s^asom  when 
the  tuce  of  the  earth  is  shut  up  from  them,  to  the  seeds  of  many 


B-  '  ■ 

■ 

|i 

■ 

fr   1 


1 

1      . 

t    1 

' 

HHpi!  !i 

* 

1     1 
1 

\ 

^ 


<^ 


/a 


&.. 


/ 


'W 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


i.O 


I.I 


11^ 

12.2 
2.0 

1.8 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corpomtion 


1.25      1.4 

1    

1.6 

■a 6"     — 

— 

^ 

% 


X 


v^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


W 


316 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


II! 


kinds  of  weeds  that  still  rise  above  the  snow  in  corners  of  fields, 
and  low,  sheltered  situations,  along  the  borders  of  creeks  and  fences, 
where  they  associate  with  several  other  species  of  Sparrows.  They 
are,  at  this  time,  easily  caught  with  almost  any  kind  of  trap ;  are 
generally  fat,  and,  it  is  said,  are  excellent  eatins. 

"  I  cannot  but  consider  this  bird  as  the  most  numerous  of  its 
tribe  of  any  within  the  United  States.     From  the  northern  parts 
of  the  District  1  of  |raine  to  the  Ogeechee  River  in  Georgia,  — a 
distance,  by  the  circuitous  route  in  which  I  travelled,  of  more  than 
eighteen  hundred  miles,  — I  never  passed  a  day,  and  scarcely  a 
mile,  without  seeing  numbers  of  these  birds,  and  frequently  large 
flocks  of  several  thousands.     Otlior  travellers  with  whom  I  con- 
versed, who  had  come  from  Lexington,  in  Kentucky,  through  Vir- 
ginia, also  declared  that  they  found  these  birds  numerous  along  the 
whole  road.     It  should  be  observed,  that  the  roadsides  are  their 
favorite    haunts,  where   many  rank   weeds    that   grow   along   the 
fences   furnish   them  with  food,  and   the  road  with  gravel.     Li 
the  vicinity  of  places  where  they  were  most  numerous,  I  observed 
a   Small    Hawk,  and  several  others^of  his   tribe,  watching  their 
opportunity,  or  hovering  cautiously  around,  making  an  occasional 
sweep  among  them,  and  retiring  to  the  bare  branches  of  an  old 
cypress  to  feed  on  their  victims.     In  the  month  of  April,  when  the 
weather   begins    to   be   warm,    they   are   observed    to   retreat  to 
the  woods,  and  to  prefer  the  shaded  sides  of  hills  and  thickets ;  at 
which  time,  the  males  warble  out  a  (ew  very  low,  sweet  notes,  and 
are   almost   perpetually   pursuing   and   fighting  with    each   other. 
About  the  20tli  of  April,  they  take  their  leave  of  our  humble 
regions,  and  retire  to  the  North  and  to  the  higli  ranges  of  the  Alle- 
ghany to  build  their  nests  and  rear  their  young.     In  some  of  those 
ranges,  in  the  interior  of  Virginia,  and  northward,  about  the  wa- 
ters of  the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna,  they  breed  in  great 
numbers.     The  nest  is  fixed  in  the  ground,  or  among  the  grass ; 
sometimes  several   being  within  a  small  distance  of  each  other. 
According  to  the  observations  of  the  gentlemen  residing  at  Hudson- 
Bay  Factory,  they  arrive  there  about  the  beginning  of  June,  stay 
a  week  or  two,  and  proceed  farther  north  to  breed.     They  return 
to  that  settlement  in  the  autumn,  on  their  way  to  the  South. 

1  Now  State. 


THE  TREE   SPARROW. 


317 


"In  some  parts  of  New  England,  I  found  the  opinion  i  retty 
ffeneral,  that  the  Snowbird,  in  summer,  is  transformed  into  the 
Small  Chipping  Sparrow,  which  we  find  so  common  in  that  seaso.i. 
I  hud  convinced  a  gentleman  of  New  York  of  his  mistake  in  thi^ 
matter,  by  taking  him  to  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Gautier  there,  who 
amuses  himself  by  keeping  a  great  number  of  native  as  well  as 
foreign  birds.  This  was  in  the  month  of  July ;  and  the  Snow- 
bird  appeared  then  in  the  same  colored  plumage  he  usually  has. 
Several  individuals  of  the  Chipping  Sparrow  were  also  in  the  same 
apartment.  The  evidence  was,  therefore,  irresistible;  but,  as  I 
had  not  the  same  proofs  to  offer  to  the  eye  in  New  England,  I  had 
not  the  same  success. 

•'  There  must  be  something  in  the  temperature  of  the  blood  or 
constitution  of  this  bird,  which  unfits  it  for  residing,  during  sum- 
mer, in  the  lower  parts  of  the  United  States,  as  the  country  here 
abounds  with  a  great  variety  of  food,  of  which,  during  its  stay,  it 
appears  to  be  remarkably  fond.  Or  perhaps  its  habit  of  associating 
in  such  numbers  to  breed,  and  building  its  nest  with  so  little  pre- 
caution, may,  to  insure  its  safety,  require  a  solitary  region,  far  from 
the  intruding  footsteps  of  man." 


n 


SPIZELLA,  Bonaparte. 

Splzella,  Bonaparte,  Geog.  and  Comp,  List  (1838).  (Type  Fnngilla  Cnnaden- 
sin,  Lath.) 

Bill  conical,  the  outlines  slightly  curved;  the  lower  mandible  decidedly  lower 
than  the  upper;  the  commissure  gently  sinuated;  the  roof  of  the  mouth  not 
knobbed;  feet  slender;  tarsus  rather  longer  than  the  middle  toe;  the  hinder  toe  a 
little  longer  than  the  outer  lateral,  which  slightly  exceeds  the  inner;  the  outer  claw 
reaching  the  base  of  the  middle  one,  and  half  as  long  as  its  toe;  claws  moderately 
curved;  tertiaries  and  secondaries  nearly  equal;  wing  somewhat  pointed,  reaching 
not  quite  to  the  middle  of  the  tail;  first  quill  a  little  shorter  than  the  second  and 
equal  to  the  fifth,  third  longest;  tail  rather  long,  moderately  forked,  and  divaricated 
at  the  tip;  the  feathers  rather  narrow;  back  streaked;  rump  and  beneath  immacu- 
late; hood  generally  uniform. 

The  genus  differs  from  Zmotrichia  in  the  smaller  size,  and  longer  and  forked 
instead  of  rounded  tail. 

SPIZELLA    MONTICOLA.  —  £a!>rf. 
The  Tree  Sparrow. 

FrinyiUa  vionticola,  Gmelin.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1788)  912. 

FriwjiUa  Cnnadensh,  Audubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  H.  (1834)  511;  V.  604. 

Fringilla  avborea,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IL  (1810)  12. 


!  I 


lAtt 


318 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


>  f   IJ 


DESCIilPTION. 

Muldle  Of  back  with  the  fonthcrs  .lark-brown  centrally,  then  n.fous,  and  edged 
w.tii  pale. fulvous  (sometimes  with  whitish).  Hood  and  upper  part  of  nape  continu- 
ous  ehestnut;  a  line  of  the  sauie  fv.iu  behi.ul  the  eye;  sides  of  head  and  neek  ashv 
a  broad  light  superciliary  hand;  beneath  wliitish,  with  a  small  circular  blotch  ;,f' 
browmsh  m  the  middle  of  the  upiH'r  part  of  the  breast;  edges  of  tail  feathers  nri- 
mary  qudls,  and  two  bands  across  the  tips  of  the  secondaries,  white ;  tertiaries  nearlv 
black;  edged  exteiually  with  rutbus,  turning  to  white  near  the  tips:  lower  jaw  vcl 
low;  upper  black.  J       j>^'- 

This  species  varies  in  the  amount  of  whitish  caging  to  the  quills  and  tail. 
Length,  six  and  twenty-five  oue-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  inches 
//<,«- Kastern  North  An.erica  to  the  Missouri;  also  on  I'ole  Creek  and  Little 
Colerado  Kiver,  New  Mexico. 

This  species  occurs  in  New  England  only  as  a  winter 
visitor.  It  arrives  from  the  North  about  tl.  ■,  last  of  October 
and  remains  in  swamps  and  sheltered  thickets  through  the 
Aviuter,  and  until  the  first  week  in  ^lay.  While  with"  us,  it 
is  gregarious,  and  often  visits  stubble-fields  and  gardens, 
where  it  feeds  upon  the  seeds  of  grasses  and  various  weeds.' 
It  has,  at  this  season,  a  persistent  twitter,  which  is  uttered 
by  all  the  members  of  the  flock  at  short  intervals.  Whether 
it  has  any  song  in  the  breeding  season  or  not,  I  am  ignorant, 
but  judge  that  it  has  not. 

It  is  not  impossible  that  this  bird  sometimes  breeds  in 
the  most  northern  sections  of  these  States ;  but  there  is  no 
authenticated  instance  on  record  of  its  doing  so.  The  bird 
alluded  to  in  the  "  Proceedings  of  the  Boston  Society  of 
Natural  History"  (vol.  V.  p.  2U)  was  uudoubtedly^he 
Chipping  Sparrow. 

The  Tree  Sparrow  breeds,  according  to  ^fr.  Ilutchins, 
around  the  Hudson's  lliiy  settlements.  "Its  nest  is  i)laced 
in  the  herbage,  is  formed  externally  of  mud  and  <hy 
grass,  and  lined  with  soi't  hair  or  down,  —  probably  from 
plants, —  in  the  manner  of  the  Yellow-bird."  The  eggs 
are  about  five  in  number:  they  are  of  a  light  grayish-blue 
color,  and  are  marked  with  sjujls  and  blotches  of  two  shtides 
of  brown  and  red.  To  comi)are  them  with  another  species, 
I  would  say  that  they  almost  exactly  resemble  small  speci- 
mens of  the  eggs  of  the  common.  Song  Sparrow.     They  are 


thp:  field  sparrow. 


319 


ovate  or  ovoidal  in  form,  and  average  about  .73  by  .50  inch 
in  dimensions. 

Sjt>IZELLA    FISSILLA.  —  Boiwpnrte. 

The  Field   Sparrow. 

Frimjillapusilla,  Wilson.  Am.  Oni.,  II.  (1810)  121;  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  II.  (1834) 
299. 

SpizMa pusilla,  Bonaparte.    List  (1838). 

FrinyiUa  juncorum,'ii\xHa.\\.    Man.,  I.  (1832)  499.      /i.  (2d  ed.,  1840)  577. 

Desckii'tion. 

Hill  red;  crown  continuous  rufous-red;  baclt  somewhat  simll.nr,  streaked  with 
blackish;  sides  of  Iicad  and  neck  (including;  a  superciliary  stripe)  ashy:  ear  coverts 
rufous;  beneath  white,  tin{,'cd  with  yellowish  anteriorly;  tail  feathers  and  quills 
faintly  edged  with  white;  two  white  bands  across  the  wing  coverts. 

This  species  is  about  the  size  of  S.  socinlis,  but  is  more  rufous  above ;  lacks  the 
black  forehead  and  eye-stripe;  has  chestnut  cars  instead  of  ash;  has  the  bill  red 
instead  of  black;  lucks  the  clear  ash  of  tlie  rump;  has  a  longer  tail,  &c.  It  is 
more  like  Monlimla,  but  is  much  smaller;  lacks  the  spot  on  the  breast  and  the 
predominance  of  white  on  the  wings,  &c.  The  young  have  the  breast  and  sides 
^treaked. 

Length,  about  five  and  seventy-five  one  hundredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  thirty- 
four  one  hundredths  inches. 

//((A.  — Eastern  North  America  to  the  Missouri  River. 

This  bird  makes  its  appearance  about  tlic  first  week  in 
April,  in  Massachusetts,  and  soon  scatters  throughout  New 
England.  It  prefers  dry  bushy  pastures  and  low  open 
woods,  and  is  seldom  found  in  the  near  vicinage  of  human 
liabitations. 

The  male  sings  during  the  season  of  incubation,  and, 
indeed,  through  nearly  all  the  summer :  mounted  on  a  low 
tree  or  fence-rail,  he  utters  his  pleasing  yet  plaintive  ditty 
at  early  morning  and  evening,  and,  in  dark  and  cloudy 
weatlier,  through  the  whole  day.  The  song  is  a  tinkling 
warble,  something  like  the  syllables,  'te  \h  \h  \le  \h  'de  \U 
\l  'd  'd  dr,  uttered  at  first  low,  and  rapidly  increasing,  and 
then  decreasing  in  tone  to  a  faint  chatter,  something  like  the 
twitter  of  the  Cliippiug  Sparrow. 

About  the  middle  of  May,  the  first  nest  is  built.  It  is  con- 
structed of  stalks  of  dried  grass  and  fine  twigs,  is  loosely 
put  together,  and  placed  usually  on  the  ground  beneath  a 


! 


:! ;(. 


!<f(  f  'Tl 


I    I 


320 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND  OOLOGY. 


busl.  sometimes  in  a  busli:  it  is  lined  with  fine  grass  and 
l.orseI.an.s.    The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  numbert  theyl 
of  a  grayislMvhite  color,  with  thinly  scattered  spots  an, 
blotches  of  reddish-brown  and  lavender;  and  their  dim 
Sions  vary  Iron.  .72  by  .52  to  .70  by  .50  inch.     Two  brool 
are  reared  m  tlie  season.  • 

Early  in  September,  these  birds  collect  in  loose  flocks 
when  they  have  all  the  habits  and  notes  of  the  Tree  8,,-ir' 

Souih         ^'*"^'''  *'''^   """  ^'^'^   ^'''  ^"-'^"^^   ^^'  the" 

SPIZELLA   &OCI&LIS. -Bmwpavte. 
The  Chipping  Sparrow;  Hair-bird. 

21  ;'^";"'Sf  ""'"'■'•  ''"""•    ^"-  °"'-  "•  (^«^°)  ^27;  And.  Or„.  Biog.,  U,  (1.34) 
Spinites  sodalis,  Cabanis.     Mus.  Ilciii.  (1851),  133. 

Desciui'tion. 

This  very  common  and  well-known  little  species  makes  its 

appearance  in  Massachusetts  sometimes  as  early  as  the  15th 

of  March,    usually  about   the   1st  of  April,  and  spreads 

.roughon    xNew  England.     The  habits  are  so  well  known 

that  any  description  here  is  superfluous. 

About  the  first  week  in  May,  the  nest  is  built.  It  is 
placed  m  an  apple-tree  in  the  orchard,  or  in  a  lilac-l)ush 
under  the  windows  of  a  dwelling-liouse  ;  and  I  found  nests 
111  low  jumper  bushes  in  the  deep  woods  in  Maine.     It  is 


THE   SONG    SPARROW. 


821 


constructc(  of  Hne  tw,gs  and  roots  and  grasses,  and  is  almost 
jnvanably  hnod  w.th  l^orsohairs ;  hcnco  its  name,  in  son.e 
local,  les,  of'-'  Hau-bird,"  ''  Hair  Sparro^v."  The  eggs  are 
usually  five  m  number.  Their  eolor  is  a  bluish-gre^;  and 
hoy  are  n.arked  with  spots  and  lines  of  black  and  obscure- 
brown  which  are  thickest  at  the  great  end  :  some  specimens 
have  these  spots  confluent  into  a  sort  of  ring.  The  dimon 
sions  vary  from  .74  by  .50  to  .70  by  .48  inch.  This  species 
IS  the  most  often,  chosen  by  the  parasitic  Cow-bird  as  a  parent 
or  Its  young ;  and  many  ornithologists  account  by  this  fact 
lor  Its  persistent  familiarity  witli  man 

AI)out  the  middle  of  October,  the  old  and  youno-  birds 
gather  into  small  flocks,  and  proceed  leisurely  on  th^soutl' 
era  migration. 

MELOSPIZA,  Baihd. 

a  little  c.,n-.,,.  foot  stout,  not  ^^i  ;ro;:  Tr;";! rr'^i^^ 

than  tho  n,i,l,lle  toe;  outer  toe  a  little  lonJr  ?,         '  "  ''"''^  '""S"- 

reac.hin,rto,la.base;f,henJclllc^I    h".,  ..'"'."'''  '''  '''"  '"*  """'"' 

one,  .i„«s  ,ui.e  short  ^n^:'!^;  :^:^:::Z:^X^T I""''  T  "''''' 

r:r;=t::t;zi-^^^^^^ 

streaked:  tail  inunaculate  "  '''^''"  "'"'  '''''''"''  l>''"e«th  thickly 

a..i..  a.n,o.  the  shortest,  ^ii  ;;:i';:^'^;;^r  lei^"  r^^^  S"'  *"^«^^^ 

spotted  I  the  crown  streaked  and  like  tire  back.  "^"^  P'""''  '''^ 

MELOSPIZA    MELODIA.-i?,«V</. 
The  Song  Sparrow. 

Am.  Om.,  11.  (1810)  125;  Ai.d.  Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1832) 
Desckiptiox. 


FrhujUk  melodia,  Wilson. 
12«;  V.  507. 


br 


•own  in  the  centre,  then  rufous,  then  grayish  on  tlie 

21 


'i;ij 


margin ;  rump  grayer  than 


riFf!! 


li  I- 


822 


OUNITHOLO(iY   AND   OOLOOY, 


upper  tnil  onverts,  both  with  obsolete  (birk  streaks;  tliero  is  n  ■wliiiisb  ninxillary 
Btripu,  bordered  above  and  below  by  one  of  dark  rur(ms-l)rown,  with  a  similar  one 
from  behind  the  eye;  the  under  parts  are  white;  the  Iirenst  and  sides  of  body  and 
throat  streaked  with  dark-rufous,  with  a  still  darker  central  line;  on  the  middle  of 
the  breast,  these  marks  are  rather  a^j^regated  so  as  to  form  a  spot ;  no  distinet  white 
on  tail  or  wings. 

Specimens  vary  somewhat  in  having  the  streaks  across  tlie  breast  moro  or  less 
sparse;  the  spot  more  or  less  distinet.  In  autumn,  the  colors  are  nuire  blended,  the 
light  maxillary  stripe  tinged  with  yellowish,  the  edges  of  the  dusky  streaks  sutfused 
with  brownisli-rnfous. 

The  young  bird  has  the  upper  parts  i>aler,  the  streaks  more  distinct,  the  lines  on 
the  head  scarcely  appreciable.  The  under  parts  are  yellowish;  the  streaks  narrower 
and  more  sharply  dclined  dark-brown. 

Lengtli  of  male,  six  and  litU-  one-liundredths  inches;  wing,  two  and  (itty-cight 
onc-hundredths;  tail,  three  inches. 

y/rii.  —  Eastern  United  States  to  the  high  central  plains. 

This  beautiful  songster  is  one  of  the  most  common  and 
well-known  of  our  summer  visitors.     It  arrives  from  about 
tlie  first  week  in  March  to  tlie  middle  of  that  month.     On 
its  first  appearance,  it  prefers  the  low  tliickets  and  l)usliy 
woods,  where,  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  it  chants  its  beautiful 
song.     It   is    somewhat   gregarious   at   this   time,   ami   is 
usually  found  in  flocks  of  half  a  dozen  individuals.    It  soon 
commences  mating ;  and,  after  a  short  season  of  courtship, 
both  birds  begin  building  their  first  nest.    This  is  about  the 
middle  of  Aj)ril,  sometimes  earlier ;  and  I  have  found  the 
nest  with  eggs  when  there  was  an  inch  or  two  of  snow  on 
the  ground.    The  nest  is  usually  built  on  the  ground,  some- 
times in  a  low  bush,  and  occasionally  in  low  trees:  it  is 
constructed  of  stalks  and  leaves,  of  grasses  and  weeds,  and 
is  lined  with  softer  grasses  and  fine  weeds.     The  eggs  are 
four  or  five  in  numl)er,  and  they  are  subject  to  great  varia- 
tions in  form  and  markings :  they  exhibit  all  the  changes 
from  grayish  to  bluish-white,  with  spots,  thinly  scattered, 
of  reddish-brown,  to   confluent  blotches  of  timber-brown, 
thickest  at  the  greater  end.     Their  dimensions  vary  from 
.94  by  .64  to  .78  by  .62  inch.     Four  eggs   in   one   nest 
measure  .94  by  .64,  .84  by  M,  .80  by  .58,  .78  by  .62. 
inch.     Two  broods,  and  sometimes  three,  are  reared  in  the 
season. 


THE  SWAMP  SPARllOVV. 


823 


Tl.cre  Ima  beo.i  considoraWo  discussion  among  ornitholo- 
gists rcgurdn.g  this  bird  ;  and  many  are  of  tho  h.diof,  that 
ft-om  Its  irregular  habits,  there  are  two  species  found  in' 
New  England  I  have  examined  with  gLt  care  many 
specunens  and  have  attentively  observed  their  habits,  a.ul 
think  that  ,t  yet  remains  to  be  proved  that  we  have  more 
than  one  species.  Late  in  October,  this  .pecies  assembles  in 
sma  1  detached  flocks,  and  leaves  New  England  for  its 
southern  home. 


Ill  i 
I  iil'. 


MELOSPIZA  PALVSTRIS.-Baird. 

The  Swamp  Sparrow. 

Frmgilla  pnlMlns,  Wihon.    Am.  Orn     Iir    n«iiWQ       a    i    ,^       «. 
(1831)  331;   V.  008.  '  ^     "^  ^"^      ^'"•-  ^m.  Biog.,  I. 

Frinffilln  (Anmodrmmis)  Georyiana,  Nuttall.    Man.,  I.  (2.1  ed.,  1840)  588. 

DuSCItllTION. 

^tn.n.ly  tinged  .i.h    r.^.^^^^  ^^XTuT :^  r'""'' ^^  '''^ 

abruptly  to  white  towards  tla.  end.  '  "'  "^^'"^'    '=*"'"einS 

_^^_Fe,nale  with  tl.o  crown  scarcely  reddish  streaked  with  black,  and  diviued  by  a 

la  autumn  the  male  of  this  species  has  the  feathers  of  the  crown  each  with  a 
b  ack  streak;  and  the  centre  of  the  crown  with  an  indistinct  light  stripe  matrri  I  v 
changniff  its  appearance.  '   '  ""*''-"""y 

Tlie  forehead  is  usually  more  or  less  streaked  with  black 
hui;:S;  ::^r  '''"'''-'-'  '^-•'-'•-'•"'^  ^-"es,  wm,,  two  and  fbrty  one- 

/AzA.- Eastern  United  States  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Missouri. 

This  bird,  although  not  rare,  is  not  so  common  as  the 
precedmg.  It  is  about  equally  distributed  throughout  Xew 
England,  and  breeds  in  all  these  States.  It  arrives  from 
the  South  about  the  first  week  in  April  in  Massachusetts ; 
in  Mame,  about  a  fortnight  later.  It  prefers  the  swampy 
localities  to  all  others,  and  is  seldom  found  at  any  distance 
from  such  places.  The  nest  is  built  about  the  10th  of  May 
It  is  constructed  of  leaves  of  grass  and  fine  hair-like  roots' 


=Jta 


824 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND    OOLOOY. 


and  lined  witli  finor  of  tlio  sanio :  tlioso  nro  a<]jii,stod  into  a 
looiso  fabric,  and  placed  in  or  beneath  a  tnwsock  of  grass  in 
a  Hwanip.  I  have  known  of  instances  of  its  being  found 
in  a  low  barborry-bnsh ;  bat  such  cases  arc  extremely  rare, 
and  form  exceptions  to  the  rnle.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five 
in  number:  their  color  is  a  grayish-white,  with  sometimes  a 
Iduish  tint,  and  marked  with  thinly  scattered  spots  of  brown 
ovei-  the  entire  surface,  except  a  circle  around  the  greater 
end,  whore  they  are  confluent,  ami  hide  the  primary  color. 
Dimensions  of  a  number  in  my  cabinet  vary  from  .80 
by  .58  to  .70  by  .54  inch.  Two  broods  are  reared  in  tlio 
season. 

Wilson,  in  describing  the  general  habits  of  this  species, 
says , — 

"  It  is  one  of  our  summer  visitants,  arriving  in  Pennsylvania 
early  in  April ;  frequenting  low  grounds  and  river  courses  ;  roarin'' 
two,  and  sometimes  three,  broods  in  a  sca-ou ;  and  returning  to  the 
South  as  soon  as  the  cold  weather  commences.     The  immense 
cypress  swamps  and  extensive  grassy  flats  of  the  Southern  States, 
that  border  their  niuiierous  rivers,  and  the  rich  rice  plantations, 
abounding  with  their  favorite  seeds   and  sustenance,  —  apj)ear  to 
be  the  general  wiiUer  resort  and  grand  annual  rendezvous  of  this 
and  all  the  other  species  of  Sparrow  that  remain  with  us  durin"- 
summer.       From   the  river  Trent  in   North    Carolina  to   that  of 
Savnnnah,  and  still  farther  south,  I  found  this  species  very  numer- 
ous ;  not  flying  in  flocks,  but  skulking  among  the  canes,  reeds,  and 
grass,  seeming  shy  and  timorous,  and  more  attached  to  the  water 
than  any  other  of  their  trilie.     In   the  month  of  April,  numbers 
pass  tiirough  Pennsylvania  to  the  northward;  which  I  conjecture 
from  tiie  circumstance  of  finding  them  at  that  season  in  particular 
])art:s  of  the  woods,  where,  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  they  are 
not  to  be  seen.     The  few  that  remain  frequent  the  swamps  and 
reedy  borders  of  our  creeks  and  rivers.     They  form  their  nest  in 
the  ground,  sometimes  in  a  tussock  of  rank  grass  surrounded  by 
wat(;r,  and  lay  four  eggs,  of  a  dirty-white,  sjOTtted  with  rufous.     So 
late  as  the  15th  of  August,  I  have  seen  them  feeding  their  young 
that  were  scarcely  able  to  fly.     Their  principal  food  is  grass  seeds, 


THE   POX-COLORRD   SPARROW.  825 

wil.l  oats,  an,l  insect.     Th«y  have  no  son,. ;  are  <liHtin«ui,shc.l  hy  a 

8u.«h3  ./.;,  or  cheep,  uttered  in  u  rati.er  hours.-r  tone  Mnn  tl  •  tot 

1...  S,>n,  Span.ow ;  t.irt  tl.e  tail  as  they  t,y  ;  seh.on.  )^Z^^^. 

ii:r "  '^'"'^  '^"'" """  '"^^  ^"■^"  "'•  «--'i>y  thieketi: 


Sub-Fanuly  Vahsehkuasa,. -77^  JJuntinffs. 

Iho  middle  toe;   brown  abov  ..Ith,. •        ■  '"'  '"'■""  '""«'^^'"  "'»" 

spots  below.  '  """-'  """""'">'  *"  ""•  '""'"^  «"-'-'"k«d;   triangular 

PASSKRKLLA,  Swainson. 

.in!^d;:;:;or::;:;:;'i:;,;;;:ti,:':^"'''':7  ^'t^-^'  ♦"«  -°i-  "^ 
--.^-r..i,,o.,,r,iLH.j;;;i;i;;Ltri^:;:::ri;;;  ,:;::i::;^ 

.'law  ,vach,i,K  to  the  .nid.lle  of  tbe  central  one-  hin.l  t    .  „       .  ■  "''  '" 

lateral;  the  elaws  all  Ion,,  and  n.odera,    v  c      -J      Iv      ,    T,;,"''''''  \  '""  '""■■• 

.;.•  .-.e  tail;  the  tertials  .lot  ,on,er  ll.  ;:       ^1    ^'^itlT  '"-n";  "^'"""^ 
tir.st  eqnal  to  tl.e  fifth;  tail  very  ncarlv  ov..,,   Jj  /','  '''"'"' '""^^'^f; 

""« ■, :•  «"-';• «"  "J. :  .;iv  z;ri;r.:^^^^     """-  '■»»' 

.-i,.f;;:;;j;;';;;:,iSLr  *''^  '"-"'-^  -  "»*™  •'--  •""«.'  t-... 

PiSSEBEUi  ILIACA.  _  .v„i„„. 
The  Fox-colored  Sparrow. 
Frinyma  iUncn,  Audubon.    Or.,.  IJin«,  H.  ( IS34)  58 ;  V.  512 
Prr-w/W/a  ,/me<,,  Swainson.     liirds,  II.  (1837)  288 
/'/•«Hif(«<i  rufa,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  III.  (I8II)  53. 

I>l:st'I!II'TION. 

Jliddle  of  the  back  dull-ash,  each  feitber  «-in,  „  1  1 ,      . 

'•i> "'  I..-1 1 K  .1.1,  r  ,„; ,    b","  wi, «: '"  f  ""•"•"i*""^ 


320 


ORNITIIOLOdy   AND   OOLOOY. 


brpflsfj  Imimt  r.lp.M  of  .piilN  nn.l  tiiil  iVnthoM  tinp.,1  witli  ruloi.s-|,i„k;  no  liKht  lincK 
on  tho  h..,i,l,  hue  u  |.,,trl,  of  rutouH  .,..  tl,,.  ,.|u.c.km  (irst  i,uill  .ath.r  Icmm  thai,  tlir 
im.!  IiiikI  to,,  nbout  e(|iml  to  H»  ilowj  somt'timi'M  tliu  cntins  Iu'ikI  uI.ovo  U  rtM|.li,li 
llko  the  luu'k.  ' 

I.fiiKtli,  niHxit  seven  and  fifty  one-hundredth*  inches;  winir,  tliruo  and  flftv  ono- 
hiiiidrcdihs  inrhcs.  '    "^ 

ll„h.  —  |;,„>|,.rn  United  Stati'H  to  the  MinxiHuippi, 

'I'hi.s  hciiiiliriil  Sparrow  is  very  almndjint  in  H])rhvr  and 
aiitiinin  in  Ncnv  Knyland,  arrivin;^  i„  .sprino;  early  in  March, 
and  dcparfinj!;  for  tlio  North  by  tho  first  week  in  April ;  and' 
iirrivinj.'  in  autumn  IVoni  tho  North  about  tho  lOth  of  Oei,,. 
bor,  nnd  dopartinjr  for  tho  South  hito  in  Noviiinber.     While 
with  us,  it  remains  in  low,  moist  thiekets  and  woody  pas- 
tures  ;  and  occasionally  visits  tin;  stubbhvlields  and  j>ardens, 
where  it  busies  itself  in  searching--  amono-  tho  <l(!ad  leaves' 
nnd  weeds  for  its  food  of  seeds  and  insects.     It  <-(.|ierally 
has,  while  in  New  Kn-iland,  only  a  short,  lispinj^  note,  occa- 
wionally  a  pretty  warble ;  but  it  is  said  to  have  in  its  northern 
home  a  beautiful  sonj.-,  that  is  excelled  by  that  of  hardly 
any  other  species.     Audubon,  in  descril)in<.-  the  nest  and 
cgjl's,  says,  "Tho  nest  of  the   Fox-colored  Sparrow,  which 
is  larjre  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  is  usmilly  phuuMl  on  tho 
grouiid,  mnonjj;  moss  or  tall  jrrass,  near  the  stem  of  a  creep- 
h\jr  Hr,  the  branches  of  which  completely  conceal  it  from 
view.     Its  outside  is  loosely  formed  of  dry  grass  and  moss, 
with  a  carefully  disposed  iniuM-  layer  of  finer  grasses,  circu' 
liirly  arranged:    and  tlie  lining   consists   of   very  delicate 
iibroiis   roots,  together  with   some   feathers   from  dilli'reiit 
species  of  water-fowls.     The  period  at  which  the;  eggs  are 
laid  is  from  tho  middle  of  Juno  to  tho  r)th  of  July.'^'^They 
ure  proportionally   large,  four   or   five  in  number,  rather 
sharp  at  tho  smaller  end,  of  a  dnll-greenish  tint,  sprinkled 
with  irregular  small  blotches  of  brown."     Their  dimensions 
average  about  .80  by  .()2  inch. 


THE  BLACK-THIIOATKI)   DUNTING. 


Sub-Fitmi'/i/  Sn/.iN^E. 


827 


Bill  vnrial.l..,  nlwiiys   larn.-,  tnii.li  ..r.lMMl.  an.l  will,  (ho  rnlincn  conHhtcrably 

•''"■^''''''  " •'""•"  "•'  '""iiuc.uH  si/,.,  aiKl  with  a  Krrat  drv..|.)|.m..nt  ImckwanU  of 

till!  low.r  jaw,  which  in  always  a|.|.nrial)ly,  w.iiirti s  .•(.riHidcralily.  hrna.h.r  lirhiiid 

(hull  thu  uppiTjuw  at  ItH  huM!;  ii.mtriU  ..xposcdj  tail  nith.r  varial.l.s  hill  K'ncrally 
hiack  <ir  rril;  wIi.kh  HJinrt.T  than  in  th..  (I.>t  Kroup;  ^apr  ahu..st  alwav.  nnirh  innn, 

HlnaiKly  hnslliMl;   (rw  <.C  ihf  spcics  nparniw-lik..  .,r  plani  in  a aiaiUTj  usually 

bluf,  nd,  or  black  and  white;  Hihh.iii  (or  iicviirV)  streaked  heiieuth. 


EUSI'IZA,    Mo.NAl'AIlTK. 

l:„^/>h.n,  U(.NAl'AliT|.:,  FJMt  (1R.1H).  ('iy,„.  Kmlnnzn  Amtricnnn,  (Jm.) 
Hill  Ixxx'-  and  sin.njr,  :nvoll.n,  and  witlnnit  any  ridKr.H;  ih,.  lower  mandihie 
nearly  as  hi-h  as  thr  npprr;  as  hr.iad  at  th.r  base  us  the  length  of  the  RonvH  and 
considn-ably  broa.hT  than  the  upp.r  mandibhs  the  ed^es  mn.h  inth^xcd.  and  shut- 
tiiiK  inueh  within  the  upper  inainlible;  the  .oniinissure  eonsidiTably  anKulated  at 
the  base,  then  decidedly  sinnaled;  the  tarsus  burciv  e.pial  to  the  middle  toe-  the 
laliral  t.-es  nearly  e,,nal,  not  rea.binu  to  the  base  ..f  the  middle  claw;  the  hind  too 
al">"t  eipial  t,.  the  middle  on.,  without  its  .law;  the  win^s  lon^  u„,l  acute,  reuehinff 
n.arly  to  the  mi.ldl..  ..f  the  tail;  th..  frtials  ,l....i,|e,|lv  louKer  than  the  s..<.ondari..H 
hut  much  Hh.irter  than  the  prinmries;  lirst  .,uill  h.uK.'st,  the  „t|„.rs  n.^ularlv  Kra.ln- 

"""':•"''  '"'"* •■"'''>'  '*'""-t<T  than  tl...  win-s,  th„n-h  mo,l..rat.lv  hniK.  nearly  even 

ahbo.iKb  slinhlly  .inarKinate;  tb..  .,uter  leutheis  Hcareely  sh.jrler;  middle  of  buck 
only  striped;  beneath  without  Btreaks. 

EDSPIZA   AMERICANA.  - /yo,„7«,r^e. 

The  Black-throated  Bunting. 

Emberizii  Am,rk,iwi,V,\w\m.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)872.  Wils.  Am.  Orn  III 
(1811)81!.     Au.l.  (»rii.  lli.i^.,  IV.  (18,18)  r.7!». 

K«,,,tza  Amirkmw,  llonapnrte.      Mst  (18,'3S).     (Typ...)     II,.,  f„nsp.  (1850),  469. 
hmtniM  Americtimi,  Calmnis.     Mus.  ileiii.  (1851),  133.     (Type.) 

PkS<'I!I1'TI.)N. 

mie.  -  Si.b.s  of  the  h.'ad.  and  si.les  an.l  back  of  the  neck,  nsh ;  crown  iiiiKe.i  with 
y..llowish-f;r.rn  an.l  faintly  slr.ak.'.l  with  .lusky;  a  superciliary  an.l  short  iiMxillary 
line,  mi.l.lle  .,f  the  breast,  axillaries,  und  edffu  of  the  wiiiK,  vellow;  chin,  lornl 
refii.in,  sp..ts  .m  si.les  of  throat,  belly,  and  iin.ler  tail  .•.)verts  white;  a  bla.k  pat.h 
on  the  throat  .liminisbinf;  to  the  br..ast,  an.l  a  sp,.t  .m  the  upper  part  of  th..  b.lly; 
wnij;  overts  chestnut;  interscupulur  region  streaked  with  black;  rest  of  baik 
iuima.'ulate. 

/Vhm/,.  with  the  markings  less  distiiK'tly  indicated;  tho  black  of  the  breast 
replaced  by  a  black  maxillary  line  an.l  a  str.'ake.l  ,..,llar  in  tho  vellow  of  the  upper 
part  of  th.'  breast. 

Len-ib,  ab.iut  six  and  seventy  one-liundredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  lllly  one- 
liundredths  incheH. 

Hub.  -  United  States  from  tho  Atlantic  to  tho  border  of  the  high  central  plains. 


328 


ORNITHOLOGY  AN'D   OOLOGY. 


This  bird  can  bo  regarded  only  as  an  extremely  rare 
summer  visitor  in  Nc-.v  England,  Massachusetts  apparently 
being  its  extreme  northern  limit.  I  have  heard  of  two 
specimens  being  found  in  this  State,  and  it  is  possible  that 
Others  may  have  occurred  here. 

The  nest  of  this  species  is  placed  on  the  ground,  usually 
in  u  dry  pasture  or  field,  and  luost  generally  beneath  a  tuft 
of  grass  or  a  small  biish.  It  is  loosely  constructed  of  grass 
and  fine  roots  arranged  circularly,  and  with  a  finer  lining. 
Tho  eggs  are  four  in  number :  they  are  of  an  ovoidal  shape, 
and  ore  but  little  pointed.  Their  dimensions  vary  from  .82 
b^  .60  inch  to  .79  by  .58  inch:  their  color  is  a  delicate 
greenish-blue,  without  spots  or  markings. 

I  have  had  no  opportunities  for  observing  the  habits  of 
this  bird,  and  can  present  nothing  of  value  with  relation  to 
theja. 

GUIRACA,  SwAiNsoN. 

Guiraca,  Swainson,  ZooI.  Jour.,  III.  (Nov.,  1827)  350.  (Type  Loxin  ccerulea,  L.) 
Bill  very  large,  nearly  as  high  as  long;  the  culnien  curved,  -vvith  a  rather  sharp 
lidge;  the  commissure  '■onspicuously  angulated  just  below  the  nostril,  tho  posterior 
leg  of  the  angle  nearly  as  ioir^  as  the  anterior,  both  nearly  straight;  lower  jaw 
deeper  tiian  the  upper,  and  extending  much  behind  the  forehead;  the  v.idtli  greater 
than  the  length  of  the  gonys,  considerably  wider  than  the  upper  jaw;  a  prominent 
knob  in  the  roof  of  the  mouth;  tarsi  shorter  than  the  niiiMle  toe,;  the  outer  toe  a 
little  longer,  reaching  not  quite  to  the  base  of  the  middle  claw;  hind  toe  rather 
longer  than  to  this  base;  wings  long,  'caching  the  middle  of  the  t-'il;  the  .seconda- 
ries and  tertials  nearly  equal;  the  second  (,>!ill  longest;  the  first  less  than  the  fourth; 
tail  very  nearly  oven,  shorter  than  the  wings. 


■  m 


%>f 


GUIRACA  LVBOVICIAISA.  — Swainson. 

The  Rose-breasted  Grosbeak. 

Loxia  Ijuloviciana,  Linnoius.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  ^1706)  306.     Wils.  Am.  Orn.    II. 
(1810)  135.  ' 

Guiraca  Lwloriciaim,  Swainson,     Phil.  Jfag.,  I.  (1827)  4^8. 
Frinrjilla  Litduviciam,  Audubjn.    Orn.  Biog.,  II.  (1834)  160;  Y.  513. 

Desckiption. 

Upper  parts  generally,  with  head  and  neck  all  round,    clossy  black ;  a  broaJ 

crescent  across  the  upper  part  or  the  breast,  extending  narrowly  down  to  the  belly, 

axillaries,  and  under  wing  coverts,  carmine;  rest  of  umier  parts,  rump,  and  upjier  tail 

coverts,  middle  wing  covurts,  spots  on  the  t.  -tiaries  and  inner  great  wing  coverts, 


Orn.,  II. 


.'•*J 


■^0 " 


;  sii^**  *"' 


;•■  «■ 


„  f.f 


^•^-V 


\ 


* 


% 


\  '- 


4 


^»? 


t 


;:l 


{'■'I  '1i 


rRDMiKAK.    (htiram  i, 


Jirt 


rtRNlTnOlXK.i-    AND    ODLOGY, 


V\m  )nvd  can   bo  regarded  only  as  u„   oxd-.nnolv 
snuuxwv  vi.aor  ii,  No^r  England,  Massaclmsetts  apparc 
b-ing  drt  oxtr..iuo  imi-H.cni   limit.     1   luivci  heard   of 
spocime,.^  1,0;,,^  fnrui  1  \u  thin  State;,  and  it  is  p.,^Kib|(, 

■  •  npecios  is  jjlaced  on  the  grouiKi. 
"•   '  '"•  J  r  (ifdd,  and  niu8t  generally  boiieath 

'■*  ^'"'"^  •  ■  ■   ^'■'"''  l>'i^J'-     It  is  loosely  constructc'<i 

■ti'U  ■         ,.oLs  arranged  cin-iilarly,  and  with  a  iiaor  ■ 
Hi^v    ;.ys  aro  ibur  in  number:  thcv  arc  of  an  ovui.hd  . 

and  are  but  liiil,,  pointed.     Their  dimen.sions  vary  fr.. 

5'/  .60  mch   to  .7;>  by  M  inch:  their  ciolor  is  "a  u- , 

^Toenisli-bliie,  without  spots  or  markings. 

I  havo  had  no  opportunities  for  observing  the  hai;   • 

tins  bird,  aiid  can  ).resent  nothing  of  value  wit!    r,  !;^. 

thera. 

'Jl'IHACA,  SwAi.vsow. 
Gim-aca,  Sw.u.vso.v,  Zool.  Jour.,  lit.  (Xov.,  lH27i  350.    (Tvpe  Lm  ■ 
B.II  very  largo,  noarh'  mh  1,1^1  a.  lon^;  the  ouimen  ourvcl,  witl-  a  ,  • 
ndt,^f;  t  „.  rnnu,.i..sur«  con>pi.Mim,.ly  .n.g.iiat.d  ju.t  hdow  ti.e  no.t.i!     ■ 
l.«  ot  the  Ru.le  „.art^'  ««  long  «.s  the  anterior,  Iwth  nearly  sUiJr 
<;'«.in.r  than  tlio  iippw,  ar.a  exfcn.ling  inuW.  behind  ihe  fun-hoa.!-  <'■ 
'iKiu  tl).;  length  of  the  Kdiys.  ,  on.i,l.r..bly  «i,h-,-  than  (h,;-  U|.per  ,  ,  . 
,'""''    '    ■  '"■  ""*  '»"«''«••  f'"-''i  'horK'f  than  the  middle  t<«..  -  . 

;""'■  '  ■'''■"^'  "<>'  'l""«  to  ihi'   basu  of  the  middle  cla<v     I    , 

Jontor  tjjnu  t<.  this  huse ;  wiu^s  Jon^f,  re«..-hi.,«  the  middle  of  the  (    i 
n..-.  and  t..rt.als  t..;arly  erjual;  the  secnd  .-(uill  longest;  the  first  les-  ,    . 
til,;  V,  .-y  nearly  even,  shorter  than  the  winp<. 


ntiv 
t\v., 

Out: 


crcfM-ent  acrj 
axiHarks.  aiii' 
covertM,  niidiii 


GUIRACH   LUDOVIGIANA.-  s.oahison. 

Tl«3  Eose-breastBd  Grosbeak. 

"Ue.     Syst.  Nat.  r.  ( 1706)  306.     Wi^ 

'.  Swftifnv.n      Vhil.  Jfaj,'.,  T.  (1827)  438. 
',  Audubon.    Orn.  Bii.g.,  [I.  { ii)84)  Ifit; 

DttfiCIUiTIDN. 

■ad  and  neek  all  rmind.  ;,4, 

•■  l>ii>a*t,  oxteiidjrjf  narrowf 

!nf«:  HMt  of  liiid!;!-  pari  >. 

he  tcrtiaries  and  ii,i;v 


KosK-BUKASTKi.   (Juo.sBKAK,    Cih-nat  hidovicl,,!,,,.     Swainsoii. 


nrpBfBfn 
<3 


I     I         1 


1 

4 

'ill  tiiaH 

i 

t 

h 
1 

IB 

"                  t' 

m 

1 .     1  1 

i  r 

m 

f. 


w^^^ 


THE  ROSE-BREASTED  GROSBEAK. 


329 

Jeninle,  without  the  white  of  nnijl,   f„n     'a 
red,  above  yellowish-brown  ^treai.^ wi;^.;  '  ZJ'  "th'  ""'°"^  ""^  ^'"^  ^ 
and  a  superciliary  on  each  side,  white    benorth,  J  *  ''""■"'  '"•'?«  «bove, 

the  breast  and  sides;  under  w^^    verts    riax^ir""!'*"'''"'  """  »'--"  <>» 

In  the  n.a!c,  the  bhicit  fea.hnf,    rT  u       ax.llar.es  saftron-yellow. 

jzts' '-  '^--^  =.':^^r  rs:-= 

This  .,eautif„l  bird  is  a  not  very  common  summer  inl.abi 

r..  .ee.  in  Ma,  i^ t^£::^:j^7zx:: 

and  a  fortnight  later  in  the  northern  sections      T,  n,lf    ' 
the  neighborhood  of  a  swam,,,  and  is    no   Xn  f  rdt 
ow  growths  of  birches  and  alders.     The  nest  iT  1 
..  lo.  shrnbs  and  trees,  often  in  the  tabe^^.bl,  '"ta' 
aider  nsnally  n.  the  deep  woods,  sometinres  in  a  pa  tu'e 
It  .s  loosely  constructed  of  twigs  and  roots,  and  Led      tb 
grass  and  han-lilcc  roots,  and  sometimes  a  fw  leave       T  lo 
eggs  aro  usually  four  in   number,  n,ore  often  less  th» 
.nore.    Then-  ground-color  is  a  grcenisb-blue :   1  is" ' 
.rly  covered  w.tb  fine  spots  and  dashes  of  umber-brow  ' 

description  differs  from^bo'^wb   h  b  ve  belr.tl.tf't'r 

-st  and  e,.gs  of  this  bird  ;  >  but  it  is  correct     I     ™  ha  ': 

.umber  of  the  eggs,  and  have  seen  several  of  t  In  s t 

besc  were  .nvariably  of  the  above  description,  and  d  fed 

."  no  essentud  particular,  though  from  various  localities 


(  n: 


U  .11 


:i  !  ■ 


330 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I . 


p. 


'^    ! 


The  lia))its  of  tills  bird  are  pretty  well  known.  It  is  a 
very  fine  songster,  and  is  liardly  excelled  by  any  of  onr 
other  species ;  its  notes  being-  uttered,  not  only  through  the 
day,  but  also  during  the  night,  as  I  have  heard  on  several 
occasions.  The  song  is  diflicult  of  description :  it  is  a 
sweet  warble,  with  various  emj)hatic  passages,  and  some- 
times a  plaintive  strain,  exceedingly  tender  and  atfecting. 

The  Grosbeak  feeds  u[)on  the  seeds  of  the  birches  and 
alders,  which  it  obtains  very  expertly.  It  also  is  very  fond 
of  various  berries  and  buds,  and  it  occasionally  searches 
among  the  fallen  leaves  for  insects  and  worms. 

After  the  young  birds  have  become  capable  of  providing 
for  themselves,  the  whole  family  sometimes  visit  the  orchards 
and  gardens,  where  they  eat  a  few  berries  and  currants. 
By  the  middle  of  September,  they  proceed  leisurely  on  their 
southern  migration. 


CYANOSPIZA,  Baihd. 

Passerina,  Vieillot,  Analyse  (1816).    Not  of  Liisnaius;  used  in  Botany. 

Cyaiionpizn,  Haiiii).     (Type  J'<i)iiii/rn  ci/inu-n,  L.) 

Bill  deep  at  the  base,  compressed;  the  upper  outline  considerably  curved;  the 
commissure  rather  concave,  with  an  obtuse,  shallow  lobe  in  the  middle;  goiivs 
slightly  curved;  feet  moderate;  tarsus  about  equal  to  middle  toe;  tie  outer  lateral 
toe  barely  longer  tluin  the  inner,  its  claw  falling  short  of  tlie  base  o,'  the  middle; 
hind  toe  about  equal  to  the  middle  without  claw;  claws  all  much  curved,  acute; 
wings  long  and  pointed,  reaching  nearly  to  the  middle  of  the  tail;  the  second  and 
third  quills  longest;  tail  appreciably  shorter  than  the  wingn,  rather  narrow,  very 
nearly  even. 

The  species  of  this  genus  are  all  of  very  small  size  and  of  showy  plumage, 
usually  blue,  red,  or  green,  in  well-delined  areas. 


CYANOSPIZA    CYANEA.  — /?((;rf/. 

The  Indigo-bird. 

Tannr/m  cyancn,  Linna'us.     Syst.  Nut.,  I.  (1706)  315. 

Frinijilla  cyunea.    AVils.,  1.  (ISIO)  100;  Aud.  Oru.  Biog.,  L  (1832)  377;  V.  503. 

DESCniITION. 

Male.  —  Blue,  tinged  with  ultramarine  on  the  head,  throat,  and  middle  of  breast; 
elsewhere  with  verdigris-green;  lores  and  anterior  angle  of  chin  velvet-black;  w.iig 
feathers  brown,  edged  externally  with  dull  bluish-brown. 


THE  INDIGO-BIRD. 


331 


Female. -Brov,n  above;  whitish,  ohsciirelv strciko,!  «..  1,1  *  ,    ^     •  . 
yel  ow  beneath,  i..,.„aturo  .na.e,  similar.  J^^:^^:^^::'^'''  ''^^^-^■ 
J^^a,  about  „ve  and  sevent,-.ive  one-hnncLuhs  ::tC ^Z  nea.,  three 

//«i.-Eastcrn  United  States  to  the  Missouri,  south  to  Guatemala 

ho.no  for  the  ensuing  summer.     Says  Nuttall,  - 

_     "Though  naturally  shy,  active,  and  suspicious,  t'hey  still  at  fhk 

jntoresnng  ponod  of  p,.ocrcatio„,  .esort  chiefly  to  th7p       'n    / ''; 

.=  .tatK>..s,  around  which  they  are  far  more  common  Xnh    th 

ohtary  woods,  seeking  their  borders,  or  the  thickets  by  id L  of 

the  road :  but  the  r  favorite  resort  ;«  fl,n         i  , 

topmost  bough  of  some         C  1 , "  ^"        ,'  ''''""'  ''""^  *'"^ 

,      ,  o    "1  suniL.  tail  aee,  winch  commands  tlm  H-l,r.i„  .  -i 

Ian, cape    .„„    „»,„  „,„,„„,„„„,,    „„   ,,   "    v    ,  "iS 

mc.-.     Tl,„  l.vel^  sfam  seem,  com,,osc.l  of  a  reiiii™  J  Z^ 
jn,l  al..,„,,t  „,  a  wl,i,„e,.,  s..cco«,o,l  by  a  silent  i,«L       ?',  II 

Kn„I„a  ,v  M:   >„.^o,I„,o,  it  i.  va..i«l  and  Il.otto,        ^\Z 

«i.o,.,e,.  so..g  „  „,„„||y  „„e,.o,I  at  tl.o  ,i„,„  .,,»,  „„    fl,"' 
.....gocl  ■„  tl,„  care,  of  i„„„„„,i.„,  „,  ,,  „„  ,,,.„„,  ,„,,,,„;™°_  » 
.....    who,,  too  g,.n„i  „  ,|i»,,lay  of  l,i,  ,„.,si„  ,„i„|„  e„.|.:^  '^'     , ' 
retin.,g  socu,-ity  of  l,i,  fa,„il_v.»  °      ,-M.«'ga   the 

May.    a  ho  „cst  is  „»„ally  placctl   i„  I„,v  busl.os    nfi,,,, 
du,. .  tt  ,s  const.„cted  „f  coarse  sodge  gfass,  s„„,o  with.^d 


>   If 


i 


832 


ORNITFIOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


leaves,  and  lined  witli  fine  stalks  of  the  same  and  the  slen- 
der hair-lik(!  tops  of  tho  hcnt  grass  (aurustis),  witli  a  very 
few  eow'-liairs,  though  sonictimos  they  make  a  suhstantial 
lining  of  hair.  The  oggs  aro  four  or  fivo  in  number;  and 
their  color  is  a  nearly  pure  wliito,  sometimes  with  a  bluish 
tint.  In  a  largo  number  in  my  collection  from  L.  E.  Hici<. 
seeker,  of  Pennsylvania,  a  few  have  scattered  l)lotehes  (,f 
redtlish'brown.  Their  size  varies  from  .80  by  .00  to  .70  by 
S)-2  inch.  IJut  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season  in  New 
England. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  the  whole  family  leaves 
New  England,  and  winters  in  troi)ical  America. 


1 1 


I  « 


PIPILO,  VlKIU,()T. 

Pijdlo,  ViEiLLOT,  Analyse  (1816)  Afrassiz.    (Typo  Frl,„,llla  enjihrophthalma 
Linii.)  ' 

Hill  rather  stout;  the  .•iilmcn  Rcntly  curved,  the  Ronys  nonrlv  straight;  the  ((.in- 
missiire  gently  connive  with  a  (Uvided  notch  near  the  end;  ilic  lower  jaw  not  .so 
deep  as  llw  npjHT,  not  as  wide  as  the  fjonys  is  lonf,',  hut  wider  than  the  base  of  the 
ui.perniandihle;  feet  liirKc,  the  tarsus  as  louff  or  a  little  lonRer  than  the  michUe 
toe;  the  outer  lateral  toe  a  little  the  longer,  and  reaching  a  little  I.evond  the  has,. 
of  the  middle  claw;  the  hind  claw  ahout  cip.al  to  its  toe;  the  tw,)  together  almut 
equal  to  the  outer  toe;  claws  all  st(mt,  conii>ressed,  and  inoderatelv  curved;  win-s 
reaching  ahout  to  the  end  uf  tUi>.  upper  tail  ..overts;  short  and  nuinded,  though  the 
I.rnnaries  are  considerably  lon-cr  than  the  nearly  wjual  secondaries  and  trnials; 
the  outer  lour  quills  are  graduated;  the  (irst  considerably  shorter  than  the  second' 
and  ahout  as  long  as  the  secondaries;  tail  consid,.ral)lV  longiT  than  the  winds' 
moderately  graduated  externally;  the  feathers  rather  broad;  most  roundel  olf^in' 
the  inner  webs  at  the  cud. 

The  colors  vary;  tlu!  upper  parts  are  generally  uniform  l)lack  or  brown;  the 
under  white  or  brown;  no  central  streaks  on  the  feathers.  The  hood  sonu'liuies 
dili'erentl}'  colored. 

The  essential  characters  of  tlu^  genus  are  in  the  curved  cnlnien  and  connnissinv; 
the  strong  feet;  the  outer  toe  rather  lofiger  than  the  inner;  the  wings  rounded,  Imt 
the  primaries  decidedly  longer  than  the  others;  the  outer  four  quills  eonsiilerablv 
graduated,  but  the  first  usually  not  shorter  than  the  secondaries.  The  graduated 
tail  longer  than  the  wings. 


iJ^ 

f 

^' 

PIPILO    EEYTHROPHTHALMUS.—  Viallot. 

The  Ground  Robin;  Towhee;  Chewink. 

Frinr/Ula  en/tliro/iJithalnui,  Linuieus.    Syst.  Nat ,  I.  ( 176G)  318 ;  Aud.  Orn   Biog 
I.(1S32)  151;  V.  511.  *'"' 


THE  GROUND   ROBIN. 


333 


F.inberhn  erylhrophthnim,,,  V,mp\\H.     Svdt.  Nat    I  mm\Mi.  \v\     a       r. 
VI.  (1812)  1)0.  "•'"• '""'■•*•  IJ''"')  874;   Wils.  Am.  Orn,, 

J'-il'M,  erythrnjMalmut,  Vieillot.     (;«|.  qIh.,  i.  (1824)  loo. 

DKNcitirrioN. 

n,i„„,..'or ..;:  I:;;  '^    r.::  1—:;;""  ?"*; "  ""•  "-^ ■" 

-Lit.';  ...ilr.....h..rsl.ln..k;  on...  v.      f,,  "     ;;;'^''  ^" '^""    '-"--"r  -ith 

^    Tl.i«  boantiful  and  well-known  species,  altl.ong],  common 
m    Massachusetts   and   the   other   southern   New-England 
States,  IS  rare  in  the  three  noHhe.n.     It  hegins  to  In-ow 
scarce  in  the  northern  districts  of  Massachusetts;  and,  bdbro 
we  have  passed  twenty  miles  hoyond  its  northern  limits,  it  is 
veiy  rareb-  s<,en      It  makes  its  appearance  about  the  20th 
ol  April   the  males  preceding  the  lemales  by  a  week  or  ten 
days.     As  soon  as  the  females  arrive,  the  pairing  season 
commences.     The  male,  perched  on  a  low  limb  of  a  tree  or 
niih  bush,  chants  his  pleasing  song,  sometimes  for  half  an 
hour  at  a  time:  this  song  resembles  the  syllables,  ^.,.-A^, 
<'he.?e  d.  do  .?.,  uttered  at  first  slowly  and  plaintively,  and 
quick  y  increased  in  volume  and  rapidity  of  utterance      Ho 
has  also  a  sort  of  quavering  warble  dinicult  of  descrintion 
If  he  is  approached,  he  watches  the  intru.ler,  and,  after 
ascTtammg  his  business,  utters  his  note  tow-hee,  and  pro- 
ceeds his  search  among  the  fallen  leaves  for  his  favorite  food 
"t  wnnns,  insects,  and  seeds,  which  he  is  almost  continually 
scratching  for  among  the  dead  vegetation 

About  the  second  week  in  May,  the  birds  commence  build- 
ing,       he  locality  usually  chosen  is  in  low,  thick  woods 
or  1,1  tuckets  o    briers  and  bushes  near  streams  of  water 
m  which  places  tins  species  is  most  often  found.     The  nes 
IS  placed  on  the  ground,  usually  beneath  a  bunch  of  grass. 


!,  ■ 


fm 


HI 


f\\t^ 


1.1  ?l 

f-^^Ufi^ 

^1 

m;i 

'  i 

ijj 

W  „  ; 

1,11 

1  '  i 

,M|lU 

s 

IB 

884 


ORNITFIOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


or  in  a  pile  of  old  bnisli  and  fa^'ots :  it  is  constructed  of 
fine  twigs,  loavos,  and  grasses,  and  is  lined  with  lino  loaves 
of  grasses,  and  sonietimcs  a  few  liair-liku  roots. 

The  eggs  are  usually  four  in  number.  Their  ground  color 
varies  from  grayish  to  reddish-white:  tliis  is  covered,  over 
the  entire  surface,  with  fine  dots  and  points  of  reddish- 
brown:  in  some  specinions  those  dots  run  into  each  other, 
aud  from  small  blotches.  Tiio  average  dimensions  of  a 
great  number  of  specimens  in  my  collodion  is  about  .94  by 
.76  inch.  When  placed  in  a  tray  b-side  an  equal  number 
of  the  eggs  of  the  Brown  Thrush,  the  eggs  of  this  species 
appear  much  paler,  and  with  a  more  roseate  tint;  otherwise, 
except  with  regard  to  size,  the  two  species  resemble  each 
other  much. 

lu  New  England,  but  one  brood  is  usually  reared  in  the 
season.  I  have  found  nests  with  young  in  Juno  and 
August,  but  generally  the  first  brood  leaves  the  nest  too  lato 
for  another  to  be  brought  out  before  the  early  frosts. 

About  the  middle  of  October,  the  old  birds  and  their 
young,  in  small  aetached  flocks,  leave  Now  England  on 
their  southern  migration. 


^trnctod  of 
line  loaves 

ound  color 
t'ored,  over 
if  reddish, 
sacli  other, 
^ions  of  a 
out  .94  by 
al  number 
his  species 
otherwise, 
mblo  each 

^od  in  the 
Juno  and 
st  too  lato 
its. 

and  their 
igland  on 


THE  nnnoLiNK.  335 


Family  ICTKRII)^.. 

Primnrics  nino;  tarni  «cufelI«to  anteriorly;  platort  behin.l;  l.ill  U„„  ,,,noralIv 

...or.  than  half  .,...  .,„..... ,  ,„.,„  j.,,,  .„  „.„  ..,,1:,,,'::;  ^  ;  t    '    ^    "  S^ 
.......a  l.al.-way  on  tho  outer,  tail  rather  long,  rounded,  legs  stout.  ' 


Sub-Famih,  Ac,vxxv.mM.  —  Thc  Starlings. 

..r.;5,:"i;:);t;':;:t-';:--:;--:,^::--- 

head;  flaws  not  much  curved  •  t„ii  n,.„i..„ ,.i... .       .,     "'^' '""^^"^  '"an  the 


DOLICIIONYX,  SwAiNsoN. 
DoUckimyx,  SWAINSON,  Zool.  Jour.,  III.  (1827)  a^.i      /t„„„    jt-   a    ■ 

Uill  short,  stout,  conical,  little  more  than  hnlf  Hw>  i.„    i     .i 

ot  reeds  or  other  s  ender  i.lants      Tlw.  ,.„1,>,  ,.«•  .i      i  M-niLai  stems 

-th  whitish  patches  on  the "^^r  pis  "  '""""  ^•^"'^  '^  ''"^"''  ^''"•-l 

DOLICHONYX    ORTZIVOHUS.  -  ««,«;„,<>;,. 
The  Bobolink;  Eeed-bird;  Eice-bird. 

dSl^Hr"'"  '^^"'''"■'''  ^'""""'-    '^^■'''  ^"''  ^-  ('^''^)  «"•    ^^'il^-  Am.  Orn.,  11. 
Dolkhmiix  orrjzivora,  Swainson.    Zool.  .Tour.,  IFI.  (1827)  351 
y.7en/s  rvr,>w,M,  Ilonaparte.     Obs.  Wils.  (1824),  No.  87     Aud  Orn   Rln^    t 

(1831)  283;  V.  (1839)  486.     Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  186.  ^•'  ^' 

Dksckiption. 

General  color  of  ;„./«  i„  spring  black,  the  nape  brownish-croam  color-  a  patch 

on  the  s,de  0    the  breast,  the  scapulars  and  rump  white,  shading  into  1  g  t  as^fon 

the  upper  ad  covers  and  the  back  below  the  interscapular  regim,,  the    S  el  pH ma 

.OS  sharply  margined  with  yellowish-white,  the  tertials  I'ss  ab    pt  v      I^  tail 

ea^^ers  marg.ned  at  the  tips  with  pale  brownish-ash.    In  autumnT^iia  'tl  tl 


ORNITriOLOdY   AND   OOLOGY. 


/'W.,.y..||<.wl.hhoneiith,-  two  Mripon  on  ,1,,.  t„p  ,.f  tho  lun.l  «„,1  ,i,„  „„„ 

nr.  ^rouK.,o,.t  ..x.,. ,,...  ...k ... , ..., ,  ,j.„. ., .h,!:';;,  I.'::;;: 

HTH   K.u,.,a  ly,  .iark...nnv„,  all  ..,l«o.l  wi.h  l,r..,vMiHl..v..||ow,   whi.l,   UnZl^ 

:;;l.r;;::;::r  "^ '  '"^  "^■"' "-- ---'-  "■•" ":--"  u::::j 

l.fiiKfli  ..f  mal.-,  sovcii  and  HcvHity  n hiindr.'dlhs  incliuM!   wlnu-    »l,rnn 

of .!«;!;;;'"'   "' ''""""  "•  "■" '"«"  •■•"""'  "'"'■■'^'  •^-'  "">• -  ^a^t 

mrnSvory  common  and  well-known  bird  is  abnndantly 
J-     Hcattoml  tlin,n^rl,„nt  sontl.on.  Now  Kiijiland  m  a  snin- 
mer  visitor,  and  is  not  rare  in  most  of  tlio  nortlu'rn  sections 
It  seldom  arrives  before  the  lOth  of  May,  when  the  mal,'..s 
preeedo  tlio  females  abont  a  week,  and  the  nest  is  not  huilt 
before  the  last  of  that  month.     It  is  placed  on  the  ground 
usually  beneath  a  tussock  of  grass  in  a  field  or  meadow' 
and   18  very  ingeniously  and  most  often  successfully  con' 
cealed :  if  is  constructed  of  grasses,  which  are  so  loosely 
arranged  as  to  be  hardly  worth  tlie  dignity  of  the  name  of 
nest.     The  eggs  arc  usually  four  in  number:  they  vary  iu 
color   from   a    light-brown   with    obscure   spots   of  darker 
brown,  to  a  dirty-gray  color  with  bold  blotches  of  brownish- 
black.     Dimensions  vary  from  .90  by  Mo  to  .80  by  .02  incli 
But  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season.     This  bird  is  no 
groat  favorite  in  the  southern  portions  of  the  United  States 
because  of  its  habit  of  visiting  the  rice-fields  in  immense' 
numbers,  and  devouring  and  destroying  great  (luantities  of 
that  grain  ;  but  in  New  England  it  is  a  general  favorite     Its 
food  while  here  consists  of  •'  all  kinds  of  insects  and  worms  " 
"the  various  kinds  of  grass  seeds,"  "crickets  and  -ras's- 
hoppers,  as  well  as  beetles  and  spiders."  * 

The  following  interesting  description  of  the  general 
liabits  of  this  species  is  given  liy  Alexander  W-.v.r,    — 

"The  winter  residence  of  this  species  I  suppose  to  be  from 
Mexico  to  the  mouth  of  the  Amazon,  from  wlieuce,  in  hosts  innu- 
hierahle,  they  regularly  issue  every  spring,  perhaps  to  both  hemi- 
spheres ;  extending  their  migrations  northerly  as  far  as  the  banks  of 


i  mill  till'  iippcf 
iiir  all  tli(>  v,\,tj, 
whUU  l>i'iiiiii,., 
til  iliirk-liroivn, 

Vtliuil    llUIKJ   „t' 

liiff,  three  niiit 

llllCM. 

lill.v  iiilk's  Past 


iMiiidiintly 
I  as  n  sum- 

II   SOCtioilH. 
tllO  llial(;.s 

1  not  built 
0  ground, 

meadow, 
rully  COU- 
io  loosely 

name  of 
'y  vary  in 
3f  darkoi' 
i)ro\vniHli- 

.02  ineli. 
ii'd  is  no 

Ml  HtiltOS, 

iinnitMisc 
II titles  of 
rite.  Its 
worms," 
id  grass- 

gfuoral 

on  :  ~ 

be  from 
5sts  iiimi- 
)tb  liemi- 
banks  of 


J I 


/• 


■''k. 


^l. 


r 


Lu-Ui-L.: 


i     ': 


I  '■: 


f' 


Mli* 


I''''  i 

fif  If 


'.  M  > , » 


1 


liil> 


^  ■'■'■    ■-■-■"  ■--■• .1    i^i-    M.J.   ,.;    U!r    • 

•!  the  bHck  of  llie  nek  niui  rufi.p,  ..mi  ii, 
i^:  blown,  ill!  t-iftet!  wiiii   !,."«-.viii'sli-v.j|!M 
"<  Hi-  li'liis;  tLfc  s,-,(,,.  ,.,..,rv<,iy  s(r..,i);. 
■;  there  ia  a  supen;ilicry  an  ! 

/  imii-Iiundmdtbs  in  fif 
■  .11,  Uui'i' inid  (ifU'ci!  <.ii.'-hu, 

'Ttf'S  !0    (III-   ;!;;'i    CCti'.tl    Lbii, 


veil-known  biH 


u  wutlieni  New  j  ;,. 

■'"    •^''' ''-i^iiti  ■  -e  ill  Buwturihc  nnrri-ri! 

1<   ^i'idnm  :i.rives  ■.,.._,■„  the  10th  uf  M.v,  wh.^n 
piecf.Je  the  females  about  a  week.  au<i  ili.-  nest  : 
before  the  last  of  that  rnomii.     Tl  is  placxl  r>M  f- 
•iNUall;  Ijencafh  a  tussoek  of  gras.s  in  a  field 
a)id   is  vo^y  ingoiiiously  and  must  ollon  sue.  .-     ., 
cealc.l:  if  is  consti  acted  of  grasses,  vhich  a 
ari:u.-..,i  as  to  bo  Iiavdlv  x^'orth  tlie  di^-iitv  of 
n('>.      The  e^gs  are  xiKmllv  fo,,r  in  minj.- 
^•olor  frow   a   lighr.bmwn   with   obsoni-   .-,„ 
to  a  (Jijf y-srrav  .-olur  with  bold  b'M{;>!i.-v 
'Voni  .90  by       . 
miretl  in  the  scuAon.     '}l^v    ^a-d 
I'- ii'  t/'osontlinrn  portions  of  ill 
'     ■«  '^-it  of  visiiing  the  riw-ar' 
'in-jnc^  and  doHtroyini!'   •• 
'^'^w  England  it  is  {^  g.  ,. 
>of -'all  kind.sof  in-'-,  , 

and  spidere,"' 
desf'i-ipti.- 

•I:     'T    A':- 


!>• 


ufiiJr 


Ming 


.M 

laerai ' 
spher. 


U;! 


.ptjt:; 


Xmaznn,  fru;..i  w; 

VLTV  SprilJfJ    IV 

'.igratjon.3  iiurthc! 


1  J1>« 


rd 


mm 


^,19 


I  ffMUlifipi  r  j        1^1 


/, 


i 


THE  BOBOLINK. 


337 


tlie  Illinois  and  the  shorosi  nf  tha  Qf  t  ^ 

n.c  biiurts  oi  tne  t!>t.  -Lawrence.     Could  tliA  fo^f 

be  ascertained,  which  has  been  asserted  by  some  write^  2t  'he 

em,grat.on  of  these  birds  was  altogether  unknown  in  th     pa  t  'f 

the  continent,  previous  to  the  introduction  of  rice  plantains  ft 

wou  d  certandy  be  interesting.     Yet  why  shouhl  thes'e  mt  aSn 

reach  at  least  a  thousand  miles  beyond  those  places  where^rL 

now  planted ;  and  this,  not  in  occasional  excursions,  but  regu  arly 

to  breed  and  rear  their  young,  where  rice  never  wa  ,  and  probacy 

never  wdl  be,  cult  vated  ?     Their  so-recent  arrival  o^  this  ^  of 

err::::'!  n  '^  '^.^'^^^^"^'^^  '""^^^^-y  ■'  ^-«se,'thou/h 

dee  were  not  a  single  grain  of  rice  cultivated  within  the  United 
States,   he  country  pi-oduces  an  exuberance  of  food  of  which  tley 
are  no    ess  fond.     Insects  of  various  kinds,  grubs.  Mayflies,    nd 
caerpdlars;  the  young  ears  of  Indian  corn  ^nd  tLe  seed  o     he 
wild  oats,  or  as  it  is  called  in  Pennsylvania,  reeds  (the  Z/ J  „ 
a,uauca  of  Linn.us),  which  grows  in  prodigious  abundance  aZ 
til    marshy  shores  of  our  large  rivers,  -  furnisli,  not  only  them,  bu! 
millions  of  Rail,  ..th  a  delicious  subsistence  for  several'weeS.     I 
do  not  doubt,  however,  that  the  introduction  of  rice,  but  more  par- 
ticularly the  progress  of  agriculture,  in  this  part  of  America  has 
greatly  increased  their  numbers,  by  multiplyhig  their  Touees  of 
subsistence  fifty-fold  within  the  same  extent  of  country 

'In  the  month  of  April,  or  very  early  in  May,  the  Rice  Bunt- 
nig.  m^e  and  female,  arrive  within  the  southeri/boundaries  otL 
U mted  States;  and  are  seen  around  the  town  of  Savannah,    n 
Georgia,  about  the  4th  of  May,  sometimes  in  separate  partie    of 
males    and   females,    but    more   generally   promiscuously       They 
mnam  tliere  but  a  short  time ;  and,  about  the  ]2tli  of  May,  Jl 
their  ap,.eara..e  111  the  lower  parts  of  Pennsylvania,  as  they  did  a 
Savannah.     While  here,  the  males  are  extremely  gly  and 'full  of 
song,  frequenting  meadows,  newly  plongh.I  fields.  Sides  of  creek 
nvo..,  ruul  ...tery  places ;  feeding  on  May-fiies  and  caterpillars,  of^ 
Inch  they  destroy  great  quantities.     In  their  passage,  howe-er 
^.rough  Virginia  at  this  season,  they  do  great  damage  t^  the  ^ 
wheat  and  barley,  while  in  its  milky  state.     Abotit  the  20th  J 
May,  they  disappear,  on  their  way  to  the  North.     Nearly  at  the 
same  time^they  arrive  in  the  State  of  New  York,  spre'ad  o 
the  whole  New-England  States,  as  fur  as  the  River  St.  Lawrence 

22  * 


'    ":  ji| 


m 


U  >v 


338 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Mfii-  !:[ii 


1  r' 


;  I 


U' 


\4\iv\ 


■■  I 


from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  sea;   in  all  of  which  places,  north  of 
Pennsylvania,  they  remain  (hiring  the  summer,  building,  and  rear- 
ing their  young.     The  nest  is  fixed  in  the  ground,  generally  iu  a 
field  of  grass :   the  outside  is  comi^sed  of  dry  leaves  and  coarse 
grass ;  the  inside  is  lined  with  fine  stalks  of  the  same,  laid  in  con- 
siderable quantity.     The  female  lays  five  eggs  of  a  bluish-white, 
marked  with  numerous   irregular  spots  of  bhiekish-brown.     The 
song  of  the  male,  while  the  female  is  sitting,  is  singular,  and  very 
agreeable.      Mounting  and   hovering  on  wing  at  a  small  hei<rlit 
libove  the  field,  he  chants  out  such  a  jingling  medley  of  short, 
variable  notes,  uttered  with  such  seeming  confusion  and  rapidity, 
and  continued  for  a  considerable  time,  that  it  appears  as  if  half  a 
dozen  birds  of  different  kinds   were  all  singing  together.     Some 
idea  may  be  formed  of  this  song  by  striking  the  high  keys  of  a 
piano-forte  at  random  singly  and  quickly,  making  as  many  sudden 
contrasts  of  high  and  low  notes  as  possible.     Many  of  the  tones 
are,  in  tliemselves,  charming ;  but  they  succeed  each  other  so  rap- 
idly that  the   ear  can   hardly  separate   them.     Nevertheless,  the 
general  effect  is  good ;  and,  wlu'u  ten  or  twelve  are  all  sin<Tin<r  on 
tlie  same  tree,  the  concert  is  singularly  pleasing.     I  kept  one  of 
these  birds  for  a  long  time,  to  observe  its  change  of  color.     Durin-r 
the   whole  of  April,  May,  and  June,  it  sang  almost  continuullv. 
In  the  month  of  June,  the  color  of  the   male  begins  to  chan<re, 
gradually  assimilating   to   that   of   tlie   female;    and,    before    the 
beginning  of   August,   it  is   dillicult  to  distinguish   the  one  from 
the  other.     At  this  time,  also,  the  young  birds  are  so  nnich  like 
the  female,  or  rather  like  both  parents,  and  the  males  so  different 
in  appearance  from  what  they  were  in  spring,  that  thousands  of 
people  in  Pennsylvania,  to  this  day,  persist  in  believing  them  to 
be  a  different  species  altogether;  wbile  otiiers  allow  them,  indeed, 
to  be  the  same,  but  confidently  assort  that  they  are  all  females,— 
none  but  females,  according  to  tliem,  returning  in  the  fall :  what 
becomes  of  the  males  they  are  totally  at  a  loss  to  conceive.     Even 
]Mr.   Mark  ( atesby,  who   resided  for  years   in   the  country  they 
inhabit,  and  who,  as  he  himself  informs  us,  examined,  by  dissec- 
tion, great  numbers  of  them  in  the  fall,  and  repeated  his  experi- 
ment the  succeeding  year,   lest  he  should   have  been  mistaken, 
declares  that  he  uniformly  found    them    to   be    females.     These 


ices,  north  of 
iig,  and  rear- 
^(Mierully  ia  a 
is  and  coarse 
,  laid  in  con- 

bliiifsh-wliite. 
brown.  TIk! 
dar,  and  very 
small  hei<rlit 
ley  of  short, 
and  rapidity, 

as  if  litilf  a 
3ther.  Some 
gli  keys  of  a 
many  sndden 

of  the  tones 
)t]ier  so  rap- 
n-theless,  the 
11  sinmnij  on 
t  kept  one  of 
lor.  Daring 
.  continnally. 
s  to  change, 
,  before  the 
he  one  from 
so  nuich  like 

so  different 
thonsands  of 
ing  them  to 
hem,  indeed, 
1  females,  — 
e  fall :  what 
eive.  Even 
onntry  they 
1,  l)y  dissec- 
l  his  experi- 
!n  mistaken, 
lies.     These 


THE   cow   BLACKBIRD. 


339 


assertions   must   appear   odd   to   the  inhabitants  of  tho   V    . 
Sta.s,  to  whom  the  change  of  pln.age  in  IC  Ur^l  w^: 

About  tlie  first  week  in  A luriief  ti.«    n        t 
„^ii     .   .     ,  '"  -august,  the  old  and  youiifr  |,ii-da 


they  all 


MOLOTIIRUS,  SwAiNsoN. 

Bill  short,  stot.t,  al,o„t  tw  ...hir,       .   ',       P    Z,"    ^^^'  Frtngilla pccons,  Gm.) 
n.lM.on  ana  ko„vs    li^l.tlv  curv       1  '"f      "'  '"'"'•'  ""^  ^^-'n^i-^'^ure  straight 

r..nnin,  hack  „.;  th,  he  i  I^- ;.:.":;;:;;  "^  ^"™-  '--'-  -■-'.■'l,  oonvex,'„„.i 
the  middlo  one.  which  is  shoZ/w  ,;..■'  "'T  ^  '^'l"''''  ''•'"^•'"""  *"«  ""■'«  of 
oven;  wings  long,  pointed,  the  ^ii;: ". -i;^;;::;.  ^'^^^  -'''-  -->'i   tail  nearly 

MOLOTHEUS  PECOEIS.  -  S,m,W«. 

The  Cow  Blackbird;  Cowbird. 

A;/7y«a /,ecom,  Gmelin.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1788)  010 

A»*Ae,vca;,.n.m,  Wilson.  Am.  Orn.,  II.  (1S,0    145 

'''''''■«•" /'f'W'.S  Bonaparte.  Obs  Wils  (\Mi\  v     lo'     . 
m;  V.  (1830)  233,  490.  ■'■^-  (1824),  No.  88.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog,  I.  (1831) 

DKscRimox. 

Second  quill  longest;    first  scarcelv  shorter-    tnil   nenrlv- 
ro..nded;  n.ale  with  the  head.  neck,  and  anter    ;  i        T  l'  1  ""'  7  7'^  '''''''''■ 
hrown,  raiher  lighter  above;  re.t  of  hodv  hZ  .  '"'^'  ''-''*  '"'ocolate- 

■u-xt  to  the  brown,  of  steel-1   J  on    ,         e      '    ,";    ""''  "'"  "  -■"'^■^-P-P-e  gloss. 
o'iva.eons-brown  all  over,  lighter  on   he  ,  ^.       ,     ""■"'"  "'■""^"''"'-^-     ^'""''^'^  ^'Sht 

Tl-eyonng  bird  of  the     '  r      ,    ,       Z'!'^     " -"f '"  ""  """  '''''  '''-•'^• 
i.".naeulate;  a  ".-i.lao- 'strip;  In;'  ^t:!?  '"'T:  ''" ''"^^^ 
whole  breast  and  sides;    there  is  •■  f..f„f  inH-     .  I         '    ""'''''''^  '''^■'■"^s  t'-e 

•iHMeathers  of  the  upper  na'nn  ''"'"  .'"'^'^'•'f'""  "^ '^  Pa'e  supereiliarv  stripe- 

"••'he  light  bands  o.l  Z  "^  ^r    I     Z^":   "''  if"  ' '  "'"  "'^  "'="-'"- 

'■'■^'''''■'  '""1  tl.Hr  existence  in  ad  ,     b  r  f  ""  "''■^""■^■'  *"'^  P''-"'''^'"^'  "PPro- 

i".  a„  interiority  in  deg^:,:  :'t ';;;!;  ^r'-''--'  -  -'•'-•onic,  a-id  s'L 

I-ns.h.  eight  inches;  win.  f.  ur  -  .    fo       /  7  '"'"'  '''''"'''y  P'"'"- 

and  forty  one-bundredths  inch;  '^  *"'"  °"<=-'"""l>-->tl.s  inches;  tail,  three 

t'.e«'i;';S:^^"'""'«^»>-'"='oCa.i.brnia:  not  fbund  in.nediately  on 


11  '.i 


•(   Ml 


U 


340 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


!|J, 


If. 


W4  .ii'r    ■ 


i^ 


This  common  and  well-known  bird  is  abundantly  dis- 
tributed throughout  New  England  as  a  summer  visi- 
tor. It  makes  its  first  appearance  about  the  middle  of 
March  in  Massachusetts,  and,  instead  of  mating  and  sei> 
arating  into  pairs,  remains  in  small  flocks  through  the 
summer. 

At  all  times,  the  males  and  females  congregate  together 
and  visit  the  fields  and  pastures,  (where  they  destroy  num- 
bers of  insects,  principally  Ortlwpfera),  and  are  usually  in 
greatest  numbers  where  droves  of  cattle  are  assembled. 
The  male,  in  spring  and  early  sununer,  has  a  guttural  sono-, 
which  he  utters  from  a  tall  tree,  sometimes  an  hour  at  a 
time.  This  song  resembles  the  syllables  \iuh  ^seee.  When 
he  emits  this  note,  he  bristles  out  the  feathers  of  his  neck 
and  spreads  his  tail,  and  seems  to  swell  out  his  body  with 
the  effort  to  produce  an  agreeable  tone. 

When  the  desire  for  laying  is  awakened  in  the  female, 
instead  of  building  a  nest  of  her  own,  she  seeks  the  tene- 
ment of  some  other  bird,  usually  a  smaller  species  than 
herself;  and,  Avatching  an  opportunity  when  the  other  bird 
has  left  it,  she  drojjs  an  egg  in  it,  and  leaves  it  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  the  owner  of  the  nest.  The  birds  most  often 
chosen  for  this  purpose  are  the  Vireos,  Warblers,  and  Spar- 
rows :  sometimes  the  Small  Thrushes  are  thus  imposed  upon, 
and  rarely  the  Wrens. 

Some  birds  build  over  the  stranger  egg  a  new  nest.  I 
have  in  my  collection  a  nest  of  the  Yellow  Warbler  thus 
doubled,  and  another  of  tlic  Goldfinch.  Sometimes  the 
nest  is  abandoned,  particularly  if  the  owner  has  no  eggs  of 
her  own  ;  but  usually  the  intruding  egg  is  hatched,  and  the 
young  bird  attended  with  all  the  care  given  to  the  legitimate 
young.  The  eggs  of  this  species  are  of  a  grayish-wiiite, 
with  fine  spots  of  brown  over  the  entire  surface.  Their 
dimensions  vary  from  .96  by  .70  to  .80  by  .62  inch :  some 
specimens  are  marked  with  very  minute  reddish  dots,  whicli 
are  scattered  over  the  entire  surface ;    others   have  bold 


idantly  dis- 
miner  visi- 
mickllo  of 
ig  and  soi)- 
lirough  tlio 

tte  together 
istroy  num- 
i  usually  in 
assembled, 
ttiiral  soil"-, 
hour  at  a 
<^e.  When 
•f  his  neek, 
J  body  with 


.>,,vv«-  ^ 


•>*35^-7^  ■ 


•-'■^>/ 


j- >,"!#= 


! 

1  ^^H 

Awtmi 

ji^W 

11 

«  / 


the  female, 
cs  the  tene- 
•ccies  than 
other  bird 
the  tender 
most  often 
,  and  8par- 
)osed  upon, 

w  nest.  I 
irbler  thus 
Jtimes  the 
no  eggs  of 
id,  and  the 
legitimate 
yish-wliite, 
;e.  Their 
ich :  some 
lots,  which 
have  bold 


•-7!.  'I 


if'' 


^ 


1 M 


\i^> 


i!;  i'l 


0RN7TI 


ifs  til 


AND  OOLOGY. 


mw' 


i  ) 


u 


r 


■  In-  11*-  a  tall  ■•  ,; 

;prftads  his  tnil.  frnd  si-ema  to  bwuU  out  bi- 

t/ablo  tone, 
tho  dr 


;!ir-  efluit  tf«  |»r()di 


uf  built 


ii     kiCSl    Oi     ilOi'     U'lVJi,    ;>i!v 


'"  -■  ■•u^  <»t,li"f  bird,  \tsuallv  u  suiaUff 
''  .  w:;':[iiiig  an  opporiMniJy  wht.-u  *' 

•he  neht.     Tiu 
i  ^bi  t!  tho  Vire?)s,  Wari  . 

'.iic.H  ! iii. ,  liiiili  Thni5.hos  ate  ^ 
Mil!  WiT-ns, 
!  -I'd-.   %!.;','•  ,.,..r  tlio  ;:.:.,,  :^ 
.  nest  of  the 
•  I'      of   the  ftibif^- 
cularb   :. 
•  itrudiH^':  f„ 
■   •  care  !i:i  \ ; 


SpC.'S! 


■>  nnnu. 


'''^"-wix„,,„  lu.,u:Kn 


IK!.,    A 


:/i'"ciit.,  phieutveus.       \ 


U'lllot. 


|l,        ! 


-  fl-il 


1     '  !l 


:: 

•\".l 

Xi 

1       i 

1 

1^1 
Ui. 


THE   SWAMP   BLACKBIRD. 


841 


dashes  and  confluent  blotclies  of  brown,  thickest  at  the 
greater  end.^ 

]Jy  the  last  week  in  Octolior,  the  young  ani  old  birds 
assemble  in  largo  Hocks,  and  leave  I'or  the  South. 

A(Ji:r.AIUS,  ViKiLurr. 

Ae/elniiit,  Vm'.iij.ot,  "  Analyse,  1810."  (Type  Onoliit  Phamciiiit,  I,.) 
Kirst  quill  sliortcr  tliiiii  scriiiid;  claws  slmrt;  tliu  outer  lateral  scarcely  reachliifc 
flio  base  of  the  uikldle;  euluicii  depressed  at  base,  partinj;  tlie  t'routal  leathers; 
length  t'lpml  to  that  of  the  head,  shorter  than  tarsus;  both  mandibles  of  cfpuil  thick- 
ness and  acute  at  tip,  the  edf,'es  much  curved,  the  cuhueii,  fjonys,  and  coniinissiiro 
nearly  straight  or  >lij;litly  sinuatcd;  the  len^^th  of  bill  about  twice  its  height;  tail 
moderately  rounded,  or  very  slightly  grailiiated ;  wings  |)ointeil,  reaching  to  end  of 
lower  tail  coverts;  colors  black,  with  red  shoulders  in  North-American  s|)ecies. 

The  nostrils  are  small,  obhuig,  overhung  by  n  membranous  scale;  the  bill  is 
higher  than  broad  at  the  hasi';  there  is  no  division  between  the  anterior  tarsal 
scutellie  and  the  single  plate  on  the  outside  of  the  tarsus. 

AGELAIUS  PHCENICEUS.  —  Vltilhl. 
The  Swamp  Blackbird;  Red-wing  Blackbird. 

Or'wlm  Phmnkcm,  Linna'us.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  101. 
Aiidmus  Phimictii»y\'K\\\t\i.    Atuil.  (IKIO), 

khnts  P/i<eiii,'i'iis,  Audulion.     Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1831)  .148;  "V.  (1830)  487. 
IcU'riin  (Xiinllwruus  J'/neiiirciiti),  Bonaparte.     Syn.  (1828),  52.     Nutt.  Man.,  I. 
(1832)  107. 

Stiiniiis piu'tlatorius,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  IV.  (1811)  30. 

Dlosritii'TioN. 

Tail  much  rounded ;  the  lateral  feathers  about  half  an  inch  shorter;  fourth  quill 
liiMgest;  first  about  as  long  as  the  litUi;  bill  large,  stout;  half  as  high,  or  more  than 
half  as  high  as  long. 

Mule.  —  (iencnd  color  uniform  lustrous  velvet-black,  with  a  greenish  reflection; 
shoulders  and  lessir  wing  coverts  of  a  bright-crimson  or  vermilion-red;  middle 
coverts  brownish-yellow,  and  usually  paler  towards  the  tips. 

1  By  an  amusing  yet  incomprehensible  mistake  of  the  printer,  the  subjoineil 
description  of  eggs,  (S:c.,  was  aimexed  to  this  species,  in  an  article  published  in  the 
"  licport  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1804,"  p.  420.  It  belongs  to 
the  (Mu'wink  or  (iround  Kobin,  page  425  of  that  volume:  "Their  tbrm  varies  troni 
eldMgated  oval  to  nearly  sjihcrical.  The  dimensions  of  a  nest  complement  of  four 
eggs,  collected  in  (Juincy,  Mass,,  are  1  by  .74  inch,  .110  by  .72  inch,  .00  by  .70  inch, 
.00  by  .68  inch:  other  specimens  do  not  vary  materially  from  these  measurements. 
But  one  brood  is  usually  reared  in  the  season.  This  bird,  although  subsisting  prin- 
cipally on  various  seeds  and  small  fruits,  destroys  great  numbers  of  insects,  particu- 
larly in  the  breeding  season :  in  fact,  its  young  are  fed  entirely  on  insects  and  their 
laivie,  and  the  well-known  wire-worms."' 


in  p 


842 


0IINITH0L0(3Y   AND   OOLOOV. 


fVffw^.-.  —  Drown  nlmvis  tlin  frntluTH  ..(Ik.mI  or  Htrnik..,!  widi  riifoiii.-l.n)wn  nii.l 
yellowiHli ;  iK'ni'ulli  wliitr,  Mrnik.d  will.  l.r.,wii:  li.r.'|MUt  d' throat,  Miprrviliary,  iii.a 
iiu'diaii  .slri|ic  ^iroiinly  tiiipd  with  l)roHiii-.li-yillow. 

Thu  I'.'MKilr  iliiH  r^  Krcally  in  Hp|iraraiiti.;  tlic  |irfvuilin>{  color  nl)ove  in  l.rowiii>,li. 
lila.k,  all  tliu  IcatlnTs  iiiarKilifd  with  rrddisli-l.rowiii  i.oiiu<  of  t\um>  on  tlir  l,a,  k 
with  hrowiilMli-yi'llow,  whlih,  on  llif  nuMJi.in  ami  ^rratrr  win>f  coviTt-,  lo^u^^  two 
hands;  the  nnd.T  part.-  aiv  .lull-whi(i>h,  .a.h  Icatlur  hioadly  Mivakf.l  .c  iilrally  with 
dark-hi-own;  the  chin  and  throat  ycllowisli,  and  Init  little  .streaked;  llicru  in  "o  dis- 
tinct  whiti.h  Mnpcrciliary  Mrcak  alongside  the  head,  tinned  anteriorly  with  hrownii-h- 
ycllow,  and  another  Icxn  diHtiiict  in  fho  median  jlno  of  the  crown;  there  is  nsnnliv 
no  iinlieation  of  any  red  on  the  win;;;  the  innnatiire  male-  exliil.it  every  jamsihle 
condition  of  cohnalion  between  that  of  the  oM  nuih'  ami  of  the  lemale', 

l-enK'lli  of  nnile,  nine  and  lifly  one-hniuhudth.i  iiicheH;  winj;,  live  indicn;  tail 
four  and  liltecii  ont'-hundrcdths  iuchus.  '        ' 

This  cominou  niul  woU-known  species  makes  Its  appoar- 
aiicc  ul)out  the  middle  of  March.     It  arrives  in  small  Hocks, 
the  males  precedinir  the  f'-males  a  week  or  ten  days.     On 
its  arrival,  it  i'retnieiits  the  meadows  and  swamps,  where, 
from  early  dawn  to  twilight,  iis  son-i'  of   ,ji(onk  a  n'e  is 
heard,  sometimes  uttered  by  a  hall-dozen  birds  at  a  time. 
As  soon  as  the  fen)ales  arrive,  the  birds  mate,  and  disperse 
thron<>h  these  States,  bnt  not  so  abundantly  in  the  northern 
as  Ml  the  south(M-n  districts.     It  commences  bnil(lill,^r  about 
the  fn-st  week  in  May.     The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a 
tussock  of  j^rass  or  low  bush  in  a  meadow  and  swamp:  it 
is   constructed   of   coarse   grasses,   wliich  arc  woven   and 
intwincd  into  a  strong  fabric,  into  which  are  incorporated 
the  grass  to  which  it  is  suspended,  or  the  twigs  of  the  bush 
in  which  it  is  built,     it  is  deeply  hollowed,  and  lined  with 
fine  gnisses,  and  sometimes  a  few  hiiir-like  roots.     The  e"'>s 
are  lour  or  live  in  number;  and  they  vary,  in  color,  two  or 
three  shade's  of  light-blue:  they  are  marked  with  spots  and 
streaks  of  vandyke-brown  and  black,  generally  distril)iited 
thickest  al  tl:e  greater  end.     Their  dimensions  vary  from 
1.0-J  by  .75  inch  to  .90  by  .(JG  inch.     Average  size  about 
.97  by  .70  inch. 

Sometimes  several  ])airs  ))reed  in  the  same  swamp  or 
meadow:  they  always  tly  to  meet  an  intruder  in  tlieir 
haunts,  and  hover  over  him,  uttering  their  cries  of  angor 


THE  MKADOW-LARK. 


848 


and  complaint;  and,  as  tl.o  alarm  pawsos  alon,^  tl,,,  country 
.s..inetinit>8  an  many  as  a  dozen  or  twenty  birds  are  lioverinJ 
over  him,  H(•ol(lin^•  vociltu'ouMly. 

Two  l.roods  :m>  usually  roared  in  the  season:  as  soon  ..m 
(lie  last  hnKxl  l.-aves  the  nest,  th.!  whole  lUmily  joins  with 
Its  neighbors  into  a  lloek  of  sometini.'s  a  hundred  or  huu- 
drod  and  llfty  or  more.  They  then  visit  the  orain-lields,  and 
ndhet  considerable  damn.ire  by  eating  and  destroyin-^  the 
gram.  Jn  many  localities,  th.-y  are  so  numor.ms  at"  this 
season,  that  they  are  a  serious  nuisance;  and  the  farmers 
destroy  great  numbers  of  them  with  poison  and  with  the 
gun. 

I^oealities  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  seaboard  are  thus 
afThcted  more  than  others;  and  1  have  seen  Hocks  of  these 
l.inls  in  I'lymouth  County,  Mass.,  containing  as  many  as  a 
thousand  individuals. 

About  the  last  of  Oetobor,  they  depart  on  their  southern 
inigralion. 

STtlHNKM.A,  VIK1LL..T 

Stunulh,  ViKiLL„r,  Analys..  ( 1H1,J).    (Typ„  Atou,ln  m,u,nn,  L  ) 
i.Hly  ti.Mk,  s.nut;  1..K.  1,,,.^..,  ,,.,„  ,,,„,,,i„„  ,„         ,  „,;.  ,^_., 

.  I.  .mnow  an.nnna,..  ,..,..1...,.,  l.il,  .....I.t,  .l,.„.a,..a;  l-nKth  al.out  throe  tin"; 

tl     l„  ,ht     c„n,nMssun.  s.nuKh,  ,n„„  ,1,..  basal  auKle,   c„!„..„  flaU.ned  basallv 
.M.n,!,,,,  ba..kwanls,  an.    parting  tho  .h.n.al  R.a.lu.rs,  l.,n«..r  than  th.  h.a,!   I 
or  or    ha„    ars...s;  n„strils  linour.  ..over...!  by  an  in..un.l„.„t  n,..n.b,.an„..,       a 
n„..r  latcra    to.  lon,v.-  than  .b,-  o......  bnt  n,„  n.a.hinK  ,..  basal  j..int  of  n.i.l.  10^ 

""  '7  "  '"""  ;'"'=■'-  "-  ""■  "-''"-.  "hi.b  is  ..,„al  to  tlu.  tarsus,  hi  Z; 
H.  riy  ,w,.r  as  Ion,,  as  ,b..  nn.bli..  ,•..,1,...  oC  b..a.l  stinWed  and  bris.l v;  ,,1 
shalls  „.  ,h„s.,.  ab„v.  ..xt..u.U.,l  into  a  bia.k  s..ta;  trrtiari-s  M.arlv  ..„„art  ,  " 
prMaaru.s,  tcatbers  above  ail  transversely  banded;  beneath  vellow,  .vi  h  „  bl  k 
pecldral  ereseent.  *  ,       n.  u  uurk 

STUENELLA    MAGNA.  -  SwrnuMm. 

The  Meadow-lark;   Old  Field-lark. 

Alauda  maona,  I.innivus.     Syst.  Nat..  I.  (17^8)  l,i7,  10th  ed.  (based  on  Alauda 
mn,puu  Cate.sby,  tab.  Uii).     AVils.  Am.  Orn.,  III.  (Ksil)  20. 
t^tiinivlla  iiuKjwi,  Swainson.     I'hil.  .Ma^.,  I.  (1827)  4.'if). 
Stunm,Lmlm-icim,m,  Andnbon.    Orn.  Hi,,;;.,  „,  (ij^.^,",  2,,,.  y     ^^       ^^^^ 
btuniclla  Ln,/uiui<ina,  Xnttail.     Man.,  I.  (1S32J  147. 


I',', 


344 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Descrutiox. 

minin /Tf'?  "^r  '''"•''-^^''"•"'  ""'■•«">«'l  ^vith  brownish-white,  and  with  a  ter 
m  na,  bloch  of  pa  e  re<UIish-brow„ ;  exposed  portions  of  wings  and  tail  with  tr.n T 
verse  dark-brown  bars,  which  on  the  mid.lle  tail  feathers  a-t  eonrtuent  allMh; 
haft,  beneath  yellow,  with  u  black  pectoral  crescent,  the  vellow  r  text  "  d  t ', 
«-e  su^of  t  e  .naxilla ;  sides,  crissun.  and  tibi.  pale  rediish-brown,  ^^^d  tm 

Length,  ten  and  sixty  one-hundrcdfhs  inches;  wing,  five;  tail,  three  and  seventv 
one-hundredths  inches,  bill  above,  one  and  thirty-li.e  one-h„ndrHths  indl  ' 

_  This  beautiful  and  wcll-kuowu  bird  is  a  commou  summer 
inhabitaut  of  tlie  three  soutlieru  New-England  States,  and 
IS  not  rare  in  the  others.     In  mild  winter,  it  remains  tln-ouo-h 


the  year;  but  o.encrMliy  leaves  for  the  S.ntth  late  in  the 
tali,  and  returns  about  the  -  second  or  third  week  in 
JVlarch.  It  commences  building  about  the  sec.nd  week 
m  May,  sometimes  earlier:  the  locality  is  avnorally  in  a 
meadow  or  low  field.  The  nest  is  usually  built  in  a  tussock 
ot  grass:  it  '':s  pretty  compact,  made  of  ,Iry,  wirv  grass, 
to  winch  a  hidden  and  almost  winding  path  is  ntade,  uvd 
genera  ly  so  well  concealed  that  the  nest  is  only  to  be  found 
wlien  the  bird  is  flushed."  — Nuttall. 

A  number  of  nests  that  I  have  examined  agree  with  this 
description:  all  were  beneath  bunches  of  grass;  and,  thongh 


ill 


:m,  1 


THE  MEADOW-LABK.  „,. 

some  were  only  partly  covcrod   still  fl,„, 
roof  to  all.    The  eggs  arc  ,h,,:i  !  f  "'  "  ''""''^«'' 

color  is  generally  tearr,  ^        '  '"  ""'"'»''^  "'<=ir 

wl.i.e,  wit'   fine    piterf  ZT^T'  '"'"""'""^  '"''l-"- 

ontiro  surface  of t  e  400      t  n.''''''";'  °™'-  "'° 
tcred  s|,„ts,  blotches  of  t„.„       ,^  '      ,    """'^'  "''"!>'  ''O"*- 

'i-a=.  T„ei'.. .lin::::,:!'; ; , Ti Jt^"- ;"■:; "■"' 
M.f /"':'«::::"':;  iCair',"', '""'^  "'■"-'""•  -» "^ 

form.  r„sy.wl,it      ;  eolo  ■      it     '       '  ,"  "^''^  ^l''"'"'-''''  "■ 
of  tliis  species,-  '"^^^  '''^^^^  ^^  «io  food 

"  Tlieir  food  consi.sts  of  flir.  lo..,.,„     c 

to,  swallow  a  co„si„e,-a..,eponion  o^^^,"^'  ^d  '"  ''  ""'^' 
tl.at  tin.  species  ever  adds  berries  or  frJt  of  V  *!'  ""'  ''^'^''' 
like  the  Starlin.,  ,,ut  usually  re.na  u  L  7  '"'  '"^  '""^  ^--' 

meadows  ;  and  iu  winter  retiL    o      1  '  "  '"'"'"^'"  "'  '"^'^^ 

no  inelinatiou  to  rob  the  orchard  or  ZZ''^  ^T^  """'^'  ''*'^^'"-" 
-  of  a  shy,  tinud,  and  retiring  dispii^l"  '  "'  '  ""'^'  "  "■"''^^•' 

But  one  brood  is  reared  iu  tl,e  season. 

nolKhbol-hood.     1     i  '    r:  ;  •  ""  ^^^^^^'^-^^^''^  i"  their 

ofthevear,isnZ:    :r':S'"''V"'''""'^"^^^^^ 
^v'l'istle.     Usually  oue  Mr     ofVfl    V   '      "■'"^-  ''^'^'"^^^-^^ 
or  ieuoe-post  as^,  :„     ',?'^.f  ;^  '«  '--^^ 
approaches,  the  bird  .nvos  hj  Tr  '         ,"7"'"*  ''  ^•"^"^'• 

approach  ti.e.u :  a.ul,  who  s     t Vt      ;-^'''"'"'>^  '''■''=-1^  to 

gnus  of  lou,  rau.e      Th  i    fl^  j  '"V''  'T''  "'^^  '^' 

ono,-tl.e  wiugs'nioviu.  u   f  1;     '  ^'''':^'^'-  '"^^-^'-'"^ 

vibrations.                         "  '''^'*'  '^^'""^'^  in^perceptible. 


v:f 


01 


nfppMfl^'''' 


34G 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Sub-Family  Icterin^e.  —  T/ie  Opioles. 

Bill  slender,  elongated,  as  long  as  the  head,  generally  a  little  decurved,  and  very 
acute;  tarsi  not  longer  than  the  middle  toe,  nor  than  the  head;  claws  short,  nnieh 
curved;  outer  lateral  toe  a  little  longer  than  the  inner,  reaching  a  little  heyond  base 
of  middle  toe;  feet  adapted  for  perching;  tail  rounded  or  graduated;  prevailing 
colors  yellow  or  orange,  and  black. 


ICTERUS    SPURIUS.  — iSonn/jaWe. 

The  Orchard  Oriole. 

Oriuliis  spuriiis,  Linnsus.     Syst.  Nat.,  L  (17G6)  1G2. 
Icterus  sjiitiiiis,  IJonaparte.    Obs.  on  Nom.  Wils.  (182jj),  No.  44. 
Biog.,  L  (1831;  221;  V.  485. 

Oriolus  miUatus,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  L  (1808)  64. 


Aud.  Orn. 


DEscHirnoN. 

Bill  slender,  attenuated,  considerably  decurved;  tail  moderately  graduated. 

Male.  —  Head  and  neck  all  round,  wings,  and  interscapular  region  of  back,  with 
tail  feathers,  black ;  rest  of  under  parts,  lower  part  of  back  to  tail,  and  lesser  upper 
wing  coverts,  witli  the  lower  one,  brownisii-chestnut;  a  narrow  line  across  the  wing, 
and  the  extreme  outer  edges  of  quills,  white. 

Female.  —  Unif<irm  greenish-yellow  beneath,  olivaceous  above,  and  browner  in 
the  middle  of  the  back ;  two  white  bands  on  the  wings.  Young  male  like  the  female, 
with  a  broad  black  ])atch  from  the  bill  to  the  upper  p;\rt  of  the  breast;  this  colur 
extending  along  the  base  of  the  bill  so  as  to  involve  the  eye  and  all  anterior  to  it  to 
the  base  of  the  bill. 

In  tills  species  the  bill  is  slender,  attenuated,  and  a  good  deal  decurved  to  the 
tip.  The  second  and  third  quills  are  longest;  the  first  intermediate  between 
the  fourth  and  lifth.  The  tail  is  rather  long;  tlu!  feathers  moderately  graduated,  the 
greatest  difference  in  length  amounting  to  half  an  inch. 

The  black  of  the  throat  extends  backwards  as  far  as  the  bend  of  the  wing,  and 
ends  as  an  obtuse  angle.  The  tail  feathers  are  entirely  black,  with  dull  whitish  tiiis 
when  not  fully  mature. 

Specimens  are  foiuid  in  all  stages  between  tli(>  cli.'v.acters  given  above.  When 
nearly  mature,  some  yellowish  feathi'vs  are  found  mixed  in  with  the  chestnut  ones. 

Length  of  specimens,  seven  and  twenty-live  oue-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three 
and  twentv-live  onc-hundredths  inches. 


This  bird  is  rather  rare  in  New  Eiiglaiul,  and  is  confined 
to  the  southern  districts  as  a  sununcr  visitor.  It  arrives 
about  the  second  weeic  in  Alay,  and  conuuonces  l)uihling 
about  the  first  week  in  June.  Tlie  nest  is  usually  placed  in 
a  forked  branch  of  a  tree  in  the  orchard,  seldom  morn  than 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground.     It  is  constructed  of  dilTerent 


i  I 


^ 


'<^i 


'>;v 


W 


'¥tei^^ 


1*.  j^:''-} 


"'*«., 


*1^: 


^i  * 
V 


'^r^'W' 


*-lfei. 


%\.  • 


'"!^'^' 


.rfT^ 


OKcii.vift^  Oiir-'i 


'  ( 


S46 


OHNlTFf.'>L.O(TV    VNI)   OOLOGx. 


I  « 


if>-  F"mibj  loTEKlNiE.  •  -  '''If  Opioles. 

■i  !nn^  0*  the  hfi/nl,  g.  iiciaiiy  a  liftli.-  lioi'urved,  an  1  vciv 

n!  tilt:  mitUll'.'  ti>\  liiir  Uiau  tlip  hi-fA;  alaw;;  gljort,  niinii 

.  I'ltle  longpf  i'uan  lim  iiuKT,  rynv.!ni'^  a  link-  lioycud  biisc 

■  1  lur  puiching;   tail,  tiiuiuli'il  or  gfudnutcfi ;    |iiv\vi''ii'  • 

A  I'kvk. 


ICTEECS   SPURIUS.  —  /Jmnparw. 

The  Oi.,hard  Oriole. 

,  l.iniiieMij,.     Sv.st.  N^l  /  !.  I  tr<it.)  Kl'J. 
■-,  I'lOnajiiU-K'.     Oll:^.  (.11  ^''.iii.  Wl!-.  ;:.:2.'j.  .V.i.    M       A'.'!,  't-i;. 
i.  (lf<31/  231;   V.   ISS. 
■  /     •'«?  niitatm,  Wilsvi:.    Am-  >.»ni.,  i.  i,;-'/-    (,i. 

lii!  'lender,  ntteminteil,  con'Kli-nihiy  ilcrurviHl ;  tail  moduraUih-  graduad'ii. 
.!''■'     4  ilrwl  and  neck  nil  j-ound,  wings,  and  Intcrsiapular  rugjnii  oi  twck,  niui 
tail  ivaiiifi^!,  Ul;ick;  rwt  uf  midi'r  jiarlis.  luwer  pail  af  buck  in  'nil,  uiid  1 
wiiig  oiivii'ts,  •  ii!:  the.  lowBi"  one.  browiu-ii-cli!.^tiiiit ;  a  jidrr  ■.    lint  acr'>- 
tttui  t(u!  e>r(rfme  outer  I'dge^i  111' quills,  while. 

/',;/•'■    -  T'liiibrm  jTrn'msh-yiiiJow  bimealh,  olivaceous  aboeo,  aud  i>t   ^•■" 
<  '•■ick;  t«v  wliite  bands  on  the  winus.    Youn;;;  niaf.^  I)k< 
V  iii;  ;.  '•!■'. i!   I  Uick  patch  friiin  the  bill  lu  llio  u|i;rtT  p:rt  or' ilie  t  r 
c"\ti!tldii)^-  ai(ili<i  the  Ima*;  of  the  !?ill  ho  ;is  io  iiivo!'-..'  ibc  -»■•'  aM't  .i!' 
ill.'  bust!  iif  the  bill. 

fa  (bi^  ^[K'eies  the  bill  is'  ?ieii(ir>r,  artftnsini.  i.  ,:  .    .   .      .   :  ... 
!  iie  .tccorid   ami    third    quili-i  jitrp    Im;ffc.<it ;    tliH  fir.ft  iiitiMn,  ■ 
I  fiftii.    Tlie  fisii  is  rather  loni;;  liie  tVuthers  iiiiKleraiiix 
rence  in  li'i^^th  aniiiiiii!i!!;r  le  btilf  an  inch. 
i  tck  !>f'  tlif!  tiiroat  ftjttin'ls  biu  kuo.i.l''  ri-'  far  ns  the  luinl  .  ' 

iii   ; ::  i.;ii  iv/>  i^i.  i   i    . 
'■■■■■■'  .  mixed  ill  '•  I";  ;'- 

n  jiiiii  i.wuiTy-iive  uiic-hundi' 

I'i...  ;.,  .f,.-i 


\ew  Rnglatui.  iiti'i 
s  a  simiin  •. 
Ti\%  aii'i    ■' .^ 
TLc  nest  !-■ 

•■    'br  Ofi'llfll'l. 

It  is  •'' 


/foot  iVnm  til' 


iirved,  an  1  vciv 
:(W)i  Bljort,  nun  li 

itcii ;    |iro\vi''ii'  • 


M      A'-i.  n-r.. 


,'ra(Iija(pii. 

liii  1 

tiiii  i'l    ..'■ 
I)k< 


■ 

it 

|. 

■  i 

ff 

HRI 

li 

H 

#  ; 

\ 

1 

il 

i 

•I     : 
i 

/* 

£fc 


m 


<ii  rm 


I  y 


THE  ORCHARD   ORIOLE. 


847 


grasses    wluch  are  woven  togetl.er  very  neatly  and  com- 
pacly :  the  whole  is  lined  with  fine  grass,  and  Lnetin^sa 
^vv  horsehan-s     It  is  not  pensile,  but  is  built  ..  the  branch 
1 1  0    ggs  are  four  or  five  in  number :  their  color  varies  from 
a  hght-blue  to  a  fioshy  tint,  which  is  marked  with  ir 
lar  spots  and  hues  of  obscure  lavender,  over  which  are  be! Id 
spots  and  blotches  of  black  and  brown.     The  d i  n o, H  n 
va^  fi-om  .80  to  .50  l>y  .54  inch.     But  one  bll  T  r:^ 
m  tlie  season. 

Nuttall,  in  describing  the  habits  of  this  species,  says,- 

"  Tlie  Orchard  Oriole  is  an  exceedingly  active,  spri-ditlv  and 
rostle.  „.cl :  „.  the  sa„.e  instant  almost,  he  is  on  L  J^aJ^ 
some  fallen  u.sect;  fluttering  amidst  the  foliage  of  the  Les  pr^  " 
and  spr„.gn,g  after  his  Inrkin.  prey  ;  or  flyin,"  and  tunin.  1  is  1  v  W 
notes  „,  a  n.anner  so  hurried,  rapi.l.  and  setmin.dy  confuse 

of  Ins  a,ntated  duty.      Between  these  hurried  attempt!,  he  a   o 
g.vesothers,,v^„chare  distinct  and  agreeable;   but  st il    .is  t 

After  a  description  of  the  nest  and  eggs,  he  continues :  _ 

_    "The  female  sits  about  fourteen  days,  and  the  young  continue 
;n    he  nes,  ,,„  (.^  ,,,,  ,^,,,..^.  ,,^^^  ^^^^_^^  ^^  J      "       e 

m    'll    :7t|T"'V  '"•    ^'7-«-^---"y-en  abroad  about  tl.: 
rnKhlle  of  J  ne      Previously  to  their  departure,  the  young,  leavin. 

t  e?;;:  fl  ''^'V"""'"  '"'^■^^  ^"'•'^^^'^"""•^'  --^-^  --»''^«  --- 

d.o  South,  frequenting  the  savannahs,  fee.ling  much  on  crickets 
grasshoppers,  and  spi.lers.  Accor.ling  to  Audubon,  thev  si„.  with 
great  hv.hness  n,  cages,  being  fed  on  rice  and  dry  f;.uits,"when 
ft  sh  canno  be  procured.  Their  o.linary  diet,  it  appears,  i  cat 
P.11--.S  and  UKsects,  of  which  they  .lestroy  great  quantities  I„  L 
course  o  he  season,  they  likewise  feed  on  various  kinds  of  iu  v 
fiu.ts  and  berr.es ;  but  their  depredations  on  the  fruits  of  the  orchard 
are  very  unnni)ortant."  ui<-uaiu 


II  i 


imi 


i«Jy  e 


il    I 


!    i 


348 


ORNITIIOLOUY   AND   OOLOGY. 


None  of  this  species  are  to  be  found  in  New  England  after 
the  1st  of  September :  they  leave  in  small,  scattered  flocks, 
consisting  of  the  old  and  young  birds  of  a  family. 

ICTERUS   BALTIMORE.  —  Dmi(Un. 

The  Baltimore  Oriole ;  Golden  Robin ;  Hang-nest. 

Orioliis  Baltiinvre,  Linnipus.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17G6)  102.  AVils.  Am.  Orn  I 
(1808)  23.  "  '' 

"  Icterus  Ballimm'e,  Daudin."    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1831)  66;  V.  (1839)  278. 

Dksckiption. 

Tail  noarh-pvon;  head  all  round  and  to  iniddio  of  back,  scapulars,  wings,  and 
upper  surtiico  of  tail,  black ;  rest  of  under  parts,  nun)),  up[)cr  tail  coverts,  and  lesser 
wing  covert.'!,  with  terminal  portion  of  tail  featiiers  (e.\cei)t  two  innermost),  orange- 
red;  edges  of  wing  quills,  with  a  band  across  the  tips  of  the  greater  coverts 
white. 

The  female  is  much  less  l)rilllant  In  color;  the  black  of  the  head  and  back  geno- 
rally  replaced  by  browiiish-yellow,  purer  ou  the  throat;  each  feather  with  a  black 
spot. 

Length,  seven  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  three  and  seveuty-five 
onc-hundredtlis  inches. 

This  well-known  species  is  abundantly  distributed  through- 
out New  England  as  a  summer  visitor.  It  makes  its  appear- 
ance about  the  1st  of  May  in  jMassachusetts,  and  about  the 

middl  ■  of  that  month 
in  Main.  ■  the  north- 
ern district  It  com- 
mences buiUli,  'ir»nt 
the  2Uth  of  May. 
nest  is  usually  li.\ 
in  an  elm-tree  near 
houses,  or  in  an  npplo 
or  ])ear  tree  in  the  or- 
chard. Nuttall's  de- 
sci'iption  of  the  nost 
is  the  best  that  I  have  ever  seen,  and  much  better  than 
any  I  could  make :  although  somewhat  lengthy,  I  give  it 
entire :  — 


I 


THE   BALTIMORE   ORIOLE.  349 

"TIkto  is  not]iin£j  more  roimrlfdl.in  ,v  *i        1    1    . 

..CO,  w,i,  oi,„,.,,v  w,.,,,i„„  >vm„,v.  ,„iip.„,,„,  „;  b,,„'::;°' ■''■'' : 

»  1«-S.n,  l,y  fi,.,„ly  f„»,,„in,;  ,m,„r.,l  »„■ ,  „f  „„,  fl  °  7fT  ''  ■„ 

M„o„,l,  v.,„.-l,a,.k,  „,„,  ,,„,|j,  „i,|,  ,,  f^.,^  ,.^^^1^         „,e     |„      Ci  1 
of  .  co„„.,o,.:a,l„  tl,iok„,»,  ,„,„  „„„  „,  „,,  „„„^,,^.,,  <■  "-  J 

.ml  I.OU.I,.     Over  ,1,0  lop,  „,„  le„,«,  „,  „,  „,      Z  ' 

an,l  ,„„.      ll,„re  ,,  ,„„,ct„„os  „  consi,!,.,,,!*.  ,|i,r,.,c.„,v  in  ,w 
;n»n„fac„„.o  of  ,  ,„,„  „„,„,  „,  „„„  „^  .„  „,^^  ,„,„.„,,„,,,, 

"I"  ""'"'  :","r"'""     """'  "'"'  ^'■™'  "■  '»  '■ '"V         . 

tlHYO"  »    lal»n  a,„l  I  l„.ve  «e„  ,„o  fo.nalo  „1,  ,„  port,,; 

l..bon„,„  la*  „.ariy  ,vi„,„„.  „,„  ai,,  „f  |,i,  „,,„,',,„  ^J' 

m  general,  IS  the  piiiirapal  worker."  ".  "oivwci, 

Tl,e  eggs  arc  f„„r  or  frvo  i„  „„n,l,or.    They  arc  of  a  flcl,- 
color.w,  I,  soruothno,  a  l,l„i»l,  ,i„t:  they  arc  marl<>.,l  w    , 

ol^curo  ln,e.,  „flaven.ler,  over  .Inch  are  invgnlar  ;■; 
...    In,e,    as  ,     .,„„„  ,,,„  „  ,„„^  ^^  ,.,.„,.,„-„„,„■.,»; 

■  I,  ■  ,, ,""  ''  '"-'''^'""^  «»T  fro..,  1  by  .-i  ,0  .88  by  .fiO 
■'..1.;  II.0  food  of  this  l,ir,l,  a.,d  also  of  ,l,e  ,,reco,li.,.- 
s,>oe,os.  co„s,»,.,  of  caterpillars  a„.l  otl.e,.  i„i„rio„  insc  t  ° 
g.-cat  n,„.,hcrs  of  ,|,o  hairy  ea,c,-,,illa,.s  a,-o  dcsti-oycd ,  a. ui 
.....c  ,,„c.s  a  large  „est  of  the  applo-t.-co  catc-pilhrs  iZ 
I.«|...latcd  ,„  a  few  days.     The  Orioles  are  ce.  ah.ly,   here- 


V^il 


!  'i\ 


if ';;  i 


350 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


fore,  wortliy  tlio  liigliost  considoratioii  and  protection  from 
the  fanner. 

The  fann'Iiarity  of  tliis  l)ir(l  witli  man,  and  its  sociable  and 
genial  disposition,  are  so  well  known  that  any  description 
of  its  hal)its  here  is  unneeessary.  About  the  middle  of 
September,  after  forming  into  small  detached  tloeks,  this 
speciea  leaves  New  England  on  its  sonthern  migration. 


\<i 


,*; 


Sab-Famll,/  Qitscalix.k.— ^/zp   /i/adfnrds. 

liill  ratluT  ntt.Miimt.Ml.iis  hw^  ,„•  I,„ip.i-  tl.mi  tlic  hcid ;  the  c.ilmcn  cMrvcd  (li,. 
til)  ""I'll  l»'"t  down;  th,.  .iillin-  ...l^.s  iiill.Tl.,!,  s,.  as  I;  iiii|mrt  a.sdincwlmt  tuliular 
appcaraiKO  to  each  niaM(lil)lL-;  thf  roiiimisj.iiro  siniinted;  tail  lonjf.T  than  tiic  wiii.'s 
usuMJIv  iniii'li  graduated;  icj;s  JoiiKfi-  than  the  head,  tilted  for  walliiiif;. 

Th(!  bill  of  tlio  Qiiiiciilime  is  vi'i-y  ditlcrciit  (roni  tliat  of  the  other  /rlen,/,r.  ,,11, |  is 
readily  reeofTiiized  hy  the  teiideiiey  to  a  roiiiidint;  inward  aloiij;  tlie  eiitlinf,'  (•d.r,.s 
rendering  (he  width  in  a  eross  seetion  of  the  hill  eonsi.Urahly  less  alon^'  the  eoininis- 
siire  than  above  or  below.    The  enlinen  is  more  curved  than  in  the  Ai/tlainm. 

The  only  j,reiiera  in  the  T'nited  States  are  as  follows:  — 

Scm.KCOi'llAGUs.  — Tail  shorter  than  the  Willis,  nearly  even;  bill  shorter  than 
the  head. 

gui.HCAl.ua.  — Tail  lonyer  than  the  win«s,  mneh  graduated;  bill  as  Ionic  as  or 
longer  than  the  head. 

SCOLKCOrnAOUS,  Sw.hnson. 

ScohcophagtiB,  SwAixsoN,  F.  Hor.  Am.,  H.  (1831).  (Tvpo  Orhlus  fa-nmncus 
Oinelin.)  ■  ^        .)       -y 

Hill  slK.rter  than  the  head,  rather  slender,  the  edges  inflexed  as  in  (hnscalm  whieh 
It  otherwise  greatly  resembles;  the  commissure  sintmted;  cidmen  roun.led,  but  not 
flattened;  tarsi  lo:iger  than  the  middle  toe;  tail  even,  or  slightly  rounded. 

SCOLECOPHAGUS   FEREUGINEUS.  -  Smmison. 
The  Busty  Blackbird. 
Crncula  fen^uginen,  Wihon.    Am.  Orn.,  111.  (isii)  41. 

QH(V/j^w/em/,v;H,'«.,,  Xuttall.  Man.,  I.  (1832)  Itm.  And.  Orn.  nine  11  (1834) 
3ir.;  V.  (1839)483.  "'        ^         ' 

Scokcophaijus  feiTUfjineus,  Swainson.    F.  Bor.  Am.,  IF.  (1831)  2SG. 

Di:.sfi(ii'TioN. 
Bill  slender,  shorter  than  the  head,  about  equal  to  the  hind  toe;  its  height  not 
qmte  two-titths  the  total  length;  wing  nearly  an  inch  longer  than  the  tail-  ^^econd 
quill  longest ;  first  a  little  shorter  than  the  fourth ;  tail  slightly  graduated ;  the  lateral 


¥  B 


TIIK   UUSTY   llLACKIimi). 


861 


foathcr   al..,ut  ,,  c,,„„..or  of  ,,.,  in.h  shuvt.M;  k,.,,.™!  c.lnr  Llark,  with  pun.lo  refleo 

t.oM.,   tl...  w,„Ks.  u,„l,.r  ,nil  n,v..,,s,  and  d-r  part  of  ,1,.    ,..|lv    L  ."j  ^ 

Kroon.     IVmal..,  ,lull-l.r..,vn.     Irin,  ,mle-Htr«w  .■ r.  »  ">  ,  M'-smhI  with 

...■'iS:;';;;^';;::;-;- :r """'"^ '-^  "-•  '^ •  --'">-"-  o... 

This  l.ir.l  is  n.,t  miconunou  i„  tl.o  Xow-Kiijiland  States  in 

the  spnnjr  un.l   lUlI   mv^vatumH,  but  Is  lu-vei-  phn.ty,  u.ul 

rotires  to  l.ioh  latitudes  to  brood.     A  fow  ronuiiu  iti  tl.o 

iiort horn  districts  of  Maino  and  Now  irun.pshiro  thnuKdi 

the  broodin-  season;    bnt  their  nests  arc   seldom   Imurd. 

VInle  ,n  the  valley  of  the  Ma^alloway  River,  in  Maine,  in 

Jnne,  1H(,4,  1  Ibnnd  several ;  and  two  of  th.-ni  contained 

three  e-s  in  each.    These  nests  were  all  b.tilt  in  low  al.lors 

overhanj-ino'  the  water:   they  were  constrncted  of,  first,  a 

layer  ot  twigs  and  brior-stalks  ;  on  this  was  bnilt  the  nest 

proper,  which  was  composed  of  stalks  and  leaves  of  -n-ass 

winch  were  mixe.l  with  mnd,  and  monlded  into  a  firm,  cir- 

enlar  strnetnrcand  line.l  with  line  leaves  of  o-.-ass  and  a  few 

haii-ldce  roots.     The  whole  Ibrined  a  lai-e  struct  nre,  easily 

scon  at  the  distance  of  a  few  rods  through  the  folia-ve 

The  eggs  are  of  a  blnish-white  color,  of  oval  fonn,  and 
covered  with  (me  scratches  and  spots  of  light-brown.  These 
markings  are  almost  exactly  similar  to  those  on  the  e-..-  of 
the  (Jreat-crested  Flyc^'tchor:  they  appear  as  if  done  with 
a  pen,  which,  as  soon  as  it  is  pressed  forcibly  on  the  obi,>ct 
IS  suddenly  withdrawn,  making  a  mark  wide  at  one  end' 
and  sharply  pointed  at  the  other. 

The  dimensions  of  three  eggs  in  my  collection  arc  1.04 
hy  .<<»  i.K'h,  l.or,  by  .75  inch,  1  l,y  .70  inch. 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  less  known  than  those  of 
any  ot  o.ir  other  IJlackbirds.  This  is  owing  as  much  to 
Its  unsociaide,  retiring  disposition  as  to  the  scarcity  of  its 
numbers.  When  it  arrives  in  spring, -sometimes  as  earlv 
as  the  th.nl  week  in  Marcl.,-it  freque.its  the  Ionv,  swamp; 
thickets,  whe.-e,  in  companies  of  three  or  four,  it  employs  it- 
seli  in  searching  for  seeds  of  various  aquatic  grasses,  insects 
worms,  and  the  small  crustaca)  found  in  such  localities. 


k    >jl 


sr>2 


ORNITIIOLOOY    AND   OOLOflY 


If 


npproaclioil,  it  flios  a  short  (lisfauco  into  a  low  ti 


watcIioH  tlio  iiitriidcr,  ntl 


00,  and 


criny^  its  iiliirni-noto  clurk. 


,.  ,    ,    -  M  — 8omo- 

tinicH,  i'kvek-i'he  v'fWh  or  rheck  ohe  wierhn.      Tins  note  is 
uttered  by  hotl.  sex(>s,  and  seems  to  l.o  tho  only  song  pos- 
sosHcd  hy  either.     J  have   )hsei-ve(l  them  earefidly,  not  only 
ill  tho  8pnn,i;,  hut  during  the  lu-eeding  season  and  in  tlie 
autnnm,  and  1  never  Insard  them  emit  any  other.     I5,)ih 
80XCS  incnhate,  and  manifest  great  anxiety  when  tho  nest  is 
approaehed ;   tho  males  flying  and  seolding  over  the  head 
of  tho  intrnder,  in  the  manner  of  tho  Red-winged  Mlaekhird. 
As  I  jKiddled  my  canoe  up  Iteneath  oni!  of  tiio  nests  de- 
scrihed  al)ove,  tiie  parent  bird  remained  sitting,  almost  nntil 
my  hainl  touched   the   limb  on  which   the  structure  was 
]»lacod.     On  /lying  otf,  she  uttered  a  chattering  cry,  almost 
exactly  like   that  of  the  female  Redwing  when  disturbed 
in  a  similar  manner. 

Early  in  September,  the  old  and  yonng  birds  collect  in 
small  tietached  Hocks,  and  frecpient  the  samt;  loucuies  tiiat 
they  liaunt  in  spring,  from  which  they  occasionally  visit  old 
corunelds  and  stubble-fields,  where  they  catch  grasshoppt-rs 
and  other  insects,  and  eat  the  seed  of  weeds  and  snch  grains 
as  arc  leTt  by  the  farmer  after  harvesting. 

They  remain  in  southern  New  England  until  early  in 
Novcml)er. 

QUISCALUS,  Vii;ii.r.oT. 

Q>M>,  V„,„,,,,T,  Analyse.  ( ISIO).     (Gray.)     (Typo  Grncnh  ,/„hr„h,  L.) 
H.  I  as  l,,,,^^  as  11...  l„.a,l,  the  rnlnu.,,  Mh^UUv  .urv...,!,  th,.  ^..,„vs  almost  strai.'lit 
ti...  ..,1hvs  „1  tl...  I,ill  i.„|...t,.,l  an.l  roun.lo.l;  the  commiss,.,-..  .,uik.  str.„.Klv  si,.„at..d' 
outlines  .,t  tarsal  snittlliu  well  ,l,.(ini..l  on  tho  si.l..s;  wi„;;s  sh.Mt.r  than  th,.  f.ii' 
son.t.tn.R.s  mucli  n.ore  so;  tail  long,  tho  f.ath.rs  consi.icn.n.sly  an.l  .h...i.k..|lv  g,a.h,- 
ateu.     LoId.s  hiaik.  " 


PC 


QUISCALUS    VERSICOLOR.— ViiilUu. 

The  Crow  Blackbird ;  Purple  Grakle. 

Jrandn  quiM-nh,  Linnicns.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  105.     \\\U.  A.n.  Orn.,  111. 
(loll)  44. 

Qukcalus  r,mco/or,  Vieillot.     Analvse?   (1816).     74.,  N„„v.  l)i,.t     XXVlll 
(1819)  4S^8.    Xntt.  Man.,  I.  (1632)  194.    And.  Urn.  liiog.,  I.  (1831)  35;  V.'(  1838)  481.' 


I(  I. 


w  troo,  and 
k,  —  soino- 
lis  nolo  is 

SOlljr    poa. 

■,  not  only 
and  in  IIk- 
HT.  Hoih 
tlio  n(!st  in 

Ui(!  Ik'iuI 
niiirivltii'd. 

ncstH  du- 
most  until 
uturo  was 
fy,  almost 
di.sturht'd 


» 


•ii' 


!  ( 


collect  in 
cities  tiiat 
r  visit  old 
sslioppci's 
ch  grains 

early  in 


^C'llir,  L.) 
>st  .straif^lit; 
:ly  siiiiiatcj ; 
mil   the  liiil, 
Ifiily  gnulii- 


.  Orn.,  in. 

.,  xxvrii. 

(1838)481. 


I /A 


^!; 


m, 


\'< 


'/, 


1 


i&} 


i\.  !'  ,:ti 


'*™^'ffciPwjF' 


THE   CROW  BLACKBIRD. 


353 


Description'. 

well  defined  steel-blue/  the  r'  of    he  .     ""'  ''*•"  '""^  ""^^  ""^^  «" 

.olden,  ,.ee„,  eoppe,  .d  ;i;:  .ttr^os^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
coverts  and  w.ngs,  the  edges  of  primaries  and  of  tail  gr  enlh     FemnT  '       •  " 
but  smaller  and  duller,  with  perhaps  more  green  on  tl  e  hfad     I  U  ""'"■' 

Length,  three   inches;  wings,  six-   taiffl  p  ^  .        w "    ^"V^^"'"'- 
above,  one  and  twenty-f.;.  one-l'.u^d.d:;;  incls       '"'''  "-'-"'^-'Iths ,   bill 

Tins  very  common  and  well-known  bird  is  distributed 
lu-oughout  New  England  in  the  snmmer  season ;  arrivh. 
abont  the  first  week  in  April.  It  is  a  soeial  spedes;  and^ 
instead  of  breaking  up  into  scattered  pairs'  the  birds' 
remain  m  flocks,  and  breed  in  communities  sometime 
several  pairs  on  one  tree.  The  nest  is  compo;ed  of  mud 
in  winch  grass  seaweed,  fine  roots,  and  other  like  mite-' 
mis  are  mixed  and  woven  into  a  large,  compact  struct.^e 

The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in  number.  They  vary  in  color 
from  hglu-b  ue  to  light-brown,  and  are  marked  with  obscu  o 
spots  of  light-brown   over  which  are  laid  blotches  and  lines 

•oO  by  .88  to  1.18  by  .84  inch.  Usually,  but  one  brood  is 
I  eared  m  the  season;  and  in  September  the  birds  collect 
into  immense  flocks,  and  do  considerable  mischief  in  the 
cornfie  ds:  m  other  seasons,  their  food  consists  of  "larv* 
caterpillars,  moths,  and  beetles,  of  which  they  devour  such 
numbers,  that,  but  for  this  providential  economy,  the  whole 

hvTl.f /'''"V?  ""'"^  P^"'"'  ^'""^^  ^''^^^^y  l^«  <l««tr-oyed 
by  the  time  it  began  to  germinate." 

Wilson,  in  describing  the  habits  of  this  species,  says,  - 

«  The  trees  where  these  birds  build  are  often  at  no  great  disLnce 

from  he  farm-house,  and  overlook  the  plantations.     From  thence 

hey  issue  ni  all  directions,  and  with  as  much  confidence,  to  make 

their  daily  depredations  among  the  surrounding  fields,  as  if  I 

23 


;«!  I 


ii '  ! 


w  ;  MP  ! 


!      I 

I  M 


!' 


354 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


whole  were  intended  for  their  use  alone.  Their  chief  attention, 
however,  is  directed  to  the  Indian  corn  in  all  its  progressive  sta"-es. 
As  soon  as  the  infant  blade  of  this  grain  begins  to  make  its  appear- 
ance above  ground,  the  Grakles  hail  the  welcome  signal  with 
screams  of  peculiar  satisfoction;  and,  without  waiting  for  a  formal 
invitation  from  the  proprietor,  descend  on  the  fields,  and  beo'in  to 
pull  up  and  regale  themselves  on  the  seed,  scattering  the  green 
blades  around.  While  thus  eagerly  employed,  the  vengeance  of  the 
gun  sometimes  overtakes  them ;  but  these  disasters  are  soon  forgot- 
ten, and  those  — 

'  Who  live  to  get  away, 
Return  to  steal,  anotlier  day.' 

About  the  beginning  of  August,  when  the  young  ears  are  in  their 
milky  state,  they  are  attacked  with  redoubled  eagerness  by  the 
Grakles  and  Redwings,  in  formidable  and  combined  bodies.  They 
descend  like  a  blackening,  sweeping  tempest  on  the  corn,  dio'  off 
the  external  covering  of  twelve  or  fifteen  coats  of  leaves  as  dex- 
terously as  if  done  by  the  hand  of  man,  and,  having  laid  bare  the 
ear,  leave  little  behind  to  the  farmer  but  the  cobs  and  shrivelled 
skins  that  contained  their  favorite  fare.  I  have  seen  fields  of  corn 
of  many  acres,  where  more  than  one-half  was  thus  ruined." 

About  the  last  week  in  September,  these  birds,  in  im- 
mense flocks,  depart  on  their  southern  migration :  so  abun- 
dant arc  they  at  that  time,  and  so  closely  do  tliey  fly 
together  in  a  flock,  that  I  have  killed,  at  one  discharge  of 
my  gun,  over  a  dozen  birds.  They  visit  the  beech  woods, 
and  also  the  oak  groves,  and  feed  upon  the  nuts  found 
on  and  beneath  those  trees.  They  also  cat  the  seeds  of 
weeds  and  various  wild  plants,  as  I  have  proved  by  examin- 
ing the  stomachs  of  ditferent  specimens. 


THE   AMERICAN  RAVEN.  355 


Family  CORVID^. 

Primaries  ten ;  the  first  short,  general] v  about  hnlf  „=  1 
little  more),  the  outer  four  sinua  ed  onTi  e  inn       ?        I   ^"^  "'  ^^^  '"^""'^  ("■•  <* 
..sually  more  or  less  concea    d  by    arm     s  f f-'  ,"'  ""'"  '''^^"  ""'^  "-'^"« 

short  appressed  lateral  brL  Ls'^ZIi.lto'H  ""•^"'' ''""''^^ '"'"'"")' -''»' 
tarsi  scutellate  anteriorlv,  the  k  e,  unSd  ?  T'"'  ""•'  ""  '""'^^^'^  ^"™'-"^' 
ted  from  the  anterior  plate«  by  a  narrow  1  klT-'  """"'"''''  '"''"^^^  ""^^  ««P''^'-<»- 
scales;  basal  joint  of  middle  toe  .Xd  a  o  "'""'.r""'*'""  '''''"  "P^'"'  •^'"'^" 
about  half  the  length;  bill  generally  «     ''""'' '°  ""  '''''="''  ^''^"-""^  ^'^^ 

Siih-Family   Cohvinje.— ne  Crows. 

Wings  long  and  pointed;  longer  than  the  tail  nn,i  ,..N        ,       , 
to  its  tip,  extending  far  beyond'the  and     t       0" t   ^  ^  ^f  "^  r^'^' 
quills  forming  the  tip  of  the  wing.  coverts,  the  third,  fourth,  and  tifth 

CORVUS,  LiNN.Eus. 

nostrils  large,  circular,  ovi.iilg'b  '  ^11  ^ "Ihf  f '''''' '''  •""' 

where;  rictus  without  bristles;  bill  nearly  a^  bn^as  t. '.         '^''  '"''""^"^  '^''■ 
higher  than  broad  at  the  base;  culmen  mnch  nl^/  "■'"''  '''"^  ''"'''-^  '""^h 

tl.0  tip  of  the  tail;  tarsi  longeV  thaTt."^^  ^^^^^^^ 

the  middle  of  each  side  separating  the  antorr       !',  "'"''  "^  ""''"  ^^^''^^  «» 

continuous  plates;  side  Ju^^^o^Z^^^'T''  T  "'^  P"^'"^"- 
graduated  or  rounded;  the  outer  four  prrrir.lVSetan'r  '"'''"'   "" 

CORYUS    CAENIVORUS.-/?aWm,«. 

The  American  Raven. 

Conm  carnivo,^^,  Bartram.     Travels  in  E.  Florida  (1798)  200 
Cw-^m  corax,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IX    (I625/  S     K    I  ^?' 
Ami.  Birds  Am.,  IV.  (1842)  78.  ^        '    ^""-  ^^«"''  !•  (1832)  202. 

Dkscription. 

In  thi.  species,  the  fenth  r   of  t  1 ,  ^  f,^        ''''  '""'  '■'"'*^'  reflections, 
those  of  th!  back       the    e^  a    \'" t:^      ""1  """'  ""  ^"'"P"'^'  ""<'  ^'-'"^^  -• 
lines  of  each  separately  a      LwLrl''o;th'  T'  """'  '"'  '"  ""'  -*""-  "^  «"'- 
elongated  and  lanceolatleacl7nrro;e  or     ',       V"'  ""■""*'  ""  ''•^""'«"  «r« 
distinct  to  near  the  base;       e  b  ,M    ven-  'm  "'  "^  '■'■'^''' ^^'"'  '''«  «"»""«« 

-ed.  the  upper  niandiblee.ten:*.^:Si,j^:-r^;-J:^^^^^ 


.J 


T  ! i'fi 


U    Hi 


356 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOCxY. 


The  feet  appear  vcn-  short  nnd  stout;  the  tarsi  with  but  seven  Bcutelhe,  ratlier 
lonpfor  tlian  the  middle  toe  niid  chiw;  the  hiteral  claws  about  equal,  aiul  extendinj; 
to  a  little  beyond  the  biise  of  tlie  middle  claw;  the  fourth  (piill  is  loiif,'('st,  the 
third  about  e(iual  the  fil'th,  the  second  considerably  longer  than  the  sixth,  the  first 
about  equal  to  the  eighth  i)riniary. 

Length,  about  twenty-four  or  twenty-five  inches:  extent,  fifty  to  fifty-one;  wing 
about  seventeen ;  tail,  ten.  Tail  moderately  graduated;  the  outer  about  one  and 
sixty  one-hundredths  to  one  and  ninety  one-hundredths  of  an  inch  less  than  the 
middle. 

THIS  bird  is  an  extremely  rare  resident  in  New  England. 
I  have  never  heard  of  its  breeding  licrc  ;  but  it  occa- 
sionally rears  its  yonng  on  the  island  of  Grand  Menan, 

off  the  north-east  coast  of 
Maine.  There,  on  the  steep 
and  almost  inaccessible  cliffs, 
its  nest  is  built.  This  is  com- 
posed of  twigs,  sticks,  seaweed, 
and  pieces  of  turf,  and  is  lined 
with  the  fnier  seaweeds  and 
algaj  found  on  the  seacoast. 

A  nest  that  I  found  in  Ohio 
was  built  on  a  jutting  rock  in 
a  large  cave.  On  ascending 
to  it,  I  found  that  it  was  built 
of  coarse  sticks  and  twigs,  and 
was  lined  with  leaves,  strips 
of  bark,  and  pieces  of  moss. 
This  nest  had  been  occupied  —  so  a  settler  told  me  —  for  a 
number  of  years,  l)y  the  same  pair  of  birds,  who  made  the 
cave  and  its  surrounding  forest  their  permanent  home 
through  the  year. 

From  its  protected  situation,  it  required  but  few  altera- 
tions and  additions  each  year ;  and  many  of  the  sticks  of 
which  it  was  composed  were  quite  rotten  and  decayed. 

It  contained  five  young,  about  half-grown.     As  this  was 
on  the  18th  of  March,  I  judged,  the  eggs  must  have  been 
laid  by  the  20th  of  February. 
The  eggs  of  this  species  are  generally  four  or  five  in 


Bcutellip,  ratlier 
,  and  t'xtuiulinj,' 

is  loiigost,  the 
B  sixtli,  the  first 

fifty-one;  v/m<:, 
■  about  one  and 
h  less  than  the 


w  England, 
but  it  occa- 
.nd  Menan, 
t  coast  of 
I  the  steep 
3sible  cliffs, 
^liis  is  com- 
:s,  seaweed, 
md  is  lined 
-weeds  and 
oacoast. 
nd  in  Ohio 
ng  rock  in 

ascendin": 
it  was  built 

twigs,  and 
-ves,  strips 
s  of  moss, 
cne  —  for  a 

made  the 
lent  home 

few  altora- 
0  sticks  of 
aycd. 

.s  this  was 
have  been 

or  five  in 


THE   COMMON   CROW. 

""'"'•er:  thcj  almost  exactly  resemblo  fi 

-on  Crow;  but  are  considera   ;   ^  t/'r,:  °^"-  ^om- 

two  mches  in  length  by  1.55  inch  intre  1^      ''"^  '^°"* 

A  specimen  in  my  collectio..   nf       ,  '^r''* 
collected  on  Grand  Meinn         '    \  "'^^""^^«^  authenticity, 

-e,  ^>eing  but  1.70  by     2^    rf  r""""  '""  '''  "«-' 
The  habits  of  this  hi. -^i  dime,isioi,8. 

^i-,andaresofa::iii::?r,  :r       -  -'^ 

an  extended  notice  here.  "  "^^  °^^e  tliem 

COEVUS  AMERlCAmS-Audub^. 

The  Common  Crow. 
CbiTus  corone  Wilsnn      a       /-v 

i  lie  webs  of  the  throat  Ce  111  °    i       i* 

"T;:t  ''•""■•"""  '■'-■'--'::.:;:  :,;;t.;r^'  '^^  '-^  "^'^^  -'-""y-  Without 

i-i-iife'tli,  nineteen  to  twenlv  in,l„.«.  ,  • 
'i-f.l.«;  t.il,  about  ei«ht  inches  '  '""''  ^''"■"-'™  '^  "-'-n  and  fitty  one-hun- 

I'i*  Catalogue  of  the  Birds  'fi'  /"'""  ■'"«">■  ■■e».a.k.,,  i„ 
<o  Lave  <li,„ini»,,ecl  vrntlh  :'''''''''  "'«—'''-•"« 
--V  or  eight  ,ea,..,;  luud    J     a    V'', '','','"'*''^  "'  "'"  '-' 

every  year."  "^  '"*^  ''^"^  ^^  strychnine  almost 

About  the  first  week  in  TVr,,-  fi     i  •   i 

a-1  .soon  commence  bt.ildin..  ''ltM;^^''^'''■'^'^  "'^°  ^^^^^^^^^ 

«•    -'"^"o^tis  usually  built  in  a 


■■'  ;    iJ 


,^i 


tfil 


!jl(i| 


358 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


fork  of  a  tall  pine,  soraetimos  in  a  tliick  birch  or  licmlock : 
it  is  constructed  of,  first,  a  layer  of  coarse  twigs  and  sticks, 
then  a  layer  of  the  bark  of  the  cedar,  moss,  and  sometiuics 
bunches  of  grass ;  it  is  warmly  lined  with  the  bark  of  tlio 
cedar,  and  sometimes  a  few  leaves.  The  eggs  are  usually 
four  in  number :  their  color  is  of  different  shades  of  green, 
which  is  covered  with  blotches  and  spots  of  different  browiift, 
and  dusky.  Dimensions  vary  from  l.Go  by  1.20  to  1.50  by 
1.08  inch.     But  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season. 

Perliaps  no  branch  of  American  rural  economy  has  been 
so  little  investigated  as  the  food  of  our  native  birds.  In 
Europe,  within  a  few  years,  the  attention  of  scientific  men 
has  been  turned  to  the  subject:  but  the  information  they 
have  been  able  to  obtain,  although  valuable,  cannot,  of 
course,  be  applied,  otherwise  than  by  a  series  of  analogies, 
to  this  country ;  and  the  economical  value  of  most  of  our 
species  is  as  yet  almost  entirely  unknown  to  us.  This  igno- 
rance is  owing,  principally,  to  the  difficulty  attending  sucli 
investigations,  —  the  killing  of  great  numbers  of  birds  in 
all  the  seasons  when  they  are  found  with  us,  which  is  abso- 
lutely necessary,  but  which  is  extremely  distasteful  to  most 
persons ;  and  it  has  been  aggravated  somewhat  by  the  con- 
tradictory statements  of  various  persons  in  different  locali- 
ties regarding  tho  food  of  some  species  that  they  have  had 
the  moans  of  observing. 

Of  these  birds,  none  have  given  rise  to  more  controvci'sy 
than  the  Corvule;  and  I  propose  to  discuss  briefly  here  tliis 
interesting  topic,  and  bring  a  few  facts  and  arguments, 
founded  on  reason  or  actual  observation,  to  show  their 
actual  economical  value. 

Until  very  recently,  I  have  been  the  earnest  advocate  of 
these  birds,  and  have  believed  that  the  benefits  they  reiulor 
much  more  than  balance  tlie  injuries  tliey  inflict ;  but  1 
must  say,  tliat,  after  careful  consideration,  my  faith  in  their 
utility  is  sadly  shaken. 

At  the  outset  I  will  say,  that  I  have  kept  specimens  in 


llMi 


3r  licmlock : 
and  sticks, 
i  sometiiiics 
hark  of  tlio 
are  usually 
OS  of  green, 
cnt  brown,-,, 
D  to  1.50  by 
)n. 

ly  has  been 
!  birds.  In 
cntific  men 
nation  they 
cannot,  of 
f  analogies, 
nost  of  our 
This  igno- 
snding  such 
of  birds  in 
lich  is  abso- 
ful  to  most 
by  the  con- 
rent  locali- 
y  have  had 

controvei'sy 
ly  here  this 
arguments, 
show  their 

Ldvocato  of 
hey  render 
lict ;  but  1 
ith  in  their 

ccimons  in 


w 


\ 


I-  f.1i 


.til/1 


i<  I 


OUNMHOU'Oy  Avn  oolhp.y, 


I  tl;' 


i'KK  ut  a  luii  j,ino,  somctimc.-i  in  a  iUuk  UircU  or  li 

-  '•■i-i ■•'•'  --^  c.  ,1    .|  ijjy,,,.  ,,('  •■         ■  -.rigs  aii  ' 

'    the  Ct  ;,.   .  ;uid  8(i 

''■•■■'  iiuly  liii^'l  'if-  hii'!.. 


Hi, 


■    1' '  -11  i.'o  by  '  "'" 

iOfifed  in  the  ht ..  , 

if  Amcricau  rural  econuii 

•  stistttwl  as  the  food  of  our  native 


.L.is   bfCil   llUMiLii    U)  ill*;  «,ii)ji  ■ 

liuvc  boou  aMo  to  obi  ';       ' 
v.'Mjrso,  be  apiiMo'!   rfh 

to    thin'  001! 11!  ; 

-!inji'i''  ■    .     .  . 


tf 


¥ 


Inf  I'l  i'    1>rr>.'  -•i  ,1  \    ,'      ill 


;;    Ll.UJ    ai^     UAi-AV,   V,  I'.l; 

-    ;        -OTi.rM-t- 


'ivk 


•  t".  n 


1     : 

1 

1      .      ;  .        i 

'm 


liUJ^HitiJ 


•ou. 


<       i 


THE   COMAION   CROW. 


869 


captivity ;  ami  liavo,  by  actual  observation,  proved  that  at 
least  eight  ounces  of  sucli  food  as  frogs,  fish,  &c.,  aro  eaten 
daily  by  our  Conunon  Crow.  Of  course,  like  other  birds,  it 
can  live  on  a  very  limited  allowance  ;  but  I  think  that  the 
ai)ovo  is  a  reasonai)le  amount:  liowever,  to  be  al)solutely 
within  boumls,  wo  will  fix  the  food  of  tlie  Crow  to  bo  eciual 
to  five  ounces  of  animal  matter  per  diem.  Beginning,  tlien 
with  the  new  year,  we  will  follow  the  life  of  this  bird  through' 
all  the  seasons,  aiul  then  compare  tlie  results  arrived  at 
together,  good  and  bad. 

During  the  months  of  January,  February,  and  Jirarch, 
when  the  face  of  the  country  is  covered  witli  snow,  the 
insects  being  dormant,  and  the  small  birds  away  to  more 
southern  districts,  most  of  the  Crows  migrate  from  New 
England:  and  the  few  that  remain  depend  upon  a  scanty 
subsistence  of  seeds  of  wild  plants  and  weeds,  acorns,  apples 
that  have  been  left  on  tlio  trees  in  the  orchard,  and  frozen ; 
and  they  occasionally  cajjture  a  field-mouse  that  strays  from 
its  nest  in  the  stubble-field  or  swamp.  The  life  of  the  Crow 
during  these  months  is  one  continued  starvation;  and  the 
expression,  "  poor  as  a  crow,"  may  be  applied  to  it,  as  well 
describing  its  condition.  It  succeeds  in  finding  a  few 
cocoons  of  Lepiihpterous  insects ;  meets  occasionally  with  a 
caterpillar  or  beetle ;  and,  on  the  whole,  its  labors  during 
these  months  may  bo  called  beneficial ;  although  the  good 
resulting  from  them  is  of  so  little  amount  that  we  might 
safely  regard  them  as  neutral.  But,  to  be  beyond  the  chance 
of  doing  it  an  injustice,  we  will  assume,  that,  during  the 
three  months  above  mentioned,  the  Crow  does  as  much  good 
as  during  the  whole  month  of  April. 

Let  us  adopt,  in  this  discussion,  a  system  of  numerals  to 
signify  the  relative  values  of  this  bird  through  the  year ; 
taking  the  nnit  one  to  represent  the  labors  of  each  day.  The 
Crow  is  therefore  valuable,  during  January,  February,  and 
March,  thirty  units,  and  in  April  is  unquestionably  thirty 
units  more ;   for  its  food  then  consists  almost  entirely  of 


360 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


•    M! 


noxious  nisccts  in  thoir  different  forms.  It  is  perfectly  safe 
to  say,  that  it  would  destroy  a  thousand  insects  in  maldno- 
up  the  amount  of  food  that  I  mentioned  above  ;  and  it  is  no't 
iininn^bablo,  that,  during  this  month,  it  actually  eats  that 
number  daily. 

During  the  first  half  of  May,  its  labors  are  undoubtedly 
beneficial ;  for  its  food  still  consists  almost  entirely  of  in 
sects:  but  after  the  middle  of  that  month,  when  the  small 
bn-ds  have  begun  to  lay  their  eggs  and  hatch  their  youn- 
tho  Crow  divides  its  diet  pretty  equally  between  them  and  the' 
insects.     x\ow,  it  is  not  apparent,  at  the  first  glance,  how 
immensely  injurious  it  becomes  the  moment  it  be-ins  to 
destroy  tho  eggs  and  young  of  our  small  birds  ;  but  wo  may 
demonstrate  it  to  an  approximation.     We  will  allow  tint 
during  thr     atter  part  of  May,  half  of  its  food  consists 'of 
n.jurious       ects  and  other  vermin  :  it  is  therefore  beneficial 
in  the  whole  month  about  twenty-three  units.     But  it  is 
perfectly  reasonable  to  say,  that  it  destroys  at  least  the  eo-..s 
or  young  of  one  pair  of  Sparrows,  four  in  number  ;  one  p'alr 
ot   Warblers,  four  in  number;  and  one  pair  of  Thrushes  or 
Starlings,  four  in  number:   for  I  have  known  one  ],air  of 
Canada  Jays  to  kill  and  devour  the  half  grown  young  of  Ibur 
tanuhes  of  Snowbirds  {Junvo  h>/emaUs),  sixteen  birds  in  all 
in  one  forenoon  ;   and  have  seen  a  pair  of  crows,  in  two' 
visits  to  an  orchard,  within  a  half-hour's  time,  destro-  tho 
young  birds  in  two  rol tins'  nests. 

Now,  let  us  see  what  tiie  injury  amounts  to  that  it  does  in 

destroying  the  four  eggs  o;-  young  of  the  Sparrows,  AVarblers 

and  Thrushes.     It  is  a  well-known  fact,  that  the  youn.r  of 

all  our  small  birds,  whether  insectivorous  or  graminivorous 

in  the  adult  stage,  are  fed  entirely  on  insects.      Bradl,«y 

says  that  a  pair  of  Sparrows  will  destroy  8,800  caterpillars 

tor  a  week's  family  supplies.    For  four  weeks,  at  the  lowest 

estimate,  the  young  of  our  Span-ows  are  fed  on  this  diet  • 

and  the  family  that  the  crow  destroys  would,  in  that  time' 

eat  at  least  18,440  noxious  insects;  and,  as  they  feed  more' 


W' 


THE   COMMON   CROW. 


361 


Mors  arc  entirely  i„soctivorous   -.n,!  J  °  ^^'"■■ 

.i.om  as  great  dest„,c,ivo  017-1*  a  tl^'V"''""'^  ''"°''- 
four  that  the  crow  desti^nv,  ,7  ?,  ?         'Vrrows.    Tl.c 

ti.oy  leave  u.  i„  lut,:  ^t  W  S  '7"""^  ""'"''^ 
pillars  and  oti.or  inseets.  A  „a  ol  T'f  '"^'''■ 
actually  secu  to  carry  over  a  iZLl  '""'  '""'" 

cater„inars,  to  their  /o,":';,  "  J^  .s'^r '  ^f""""^ 
pose  that  the  family  „„;,„„„  „  ™  '  ^  "™?^  'f  -o  «„p. 
hours  iu  the  day  thov  ,v„„l,)  „  *         ,  '°''  ""'j'  »« 

.oast  While  they^il  ,  t  tt^'^,  r,'":"-""  P"'  "'"■"'»' 
the  amou,it  would  be  Wm-  and  l!  ,?'=  '"'"=  ^''^^''•'• 
.1.0  fall,  allowing  „n,y  m^  ^a      p     I/'^V"™  "  '" 

munbcr,_thcy  would,  in  the  ag,rate''.m  t  ™?  ?"" 
sand  more.  "oo'i-o'ite,  Iiill  twenty  thou- 

.eavo  ns  for  th^ir  winr  .rot'-X  tt';  ^Tin™"" 
many  as  it  would  eat  in  a  dav  iP  U.  f        ""*^^>  "^-^  Klines  as 

of  then.  It  is  ...orefore^^lL'utdt  ,:r-^.':!t  :r^ 
May,-,„e,n,gourorig 1   calculation   i:  tt,'!!!^,,",^ 

During  the  whole  mojith  of  June  ■„„1  ,i      r       , 
July,  while  its  fannly  arc  in  "he   ,™t  !  f'"  ''""■  "' 

Jcstructive;  for  its  von,!   1  '      "  "'  '«•""  ''""W' 

.i'«,  - -iug  Lfa   nrrfX'  °'  r ?"'  »""«■ 

'"» ing.  then,  that  of  its  an  1  hi  ,  I  ;  ,    ,r"'"'''^  *'"='"•    ^"- 

^uriug  this  period,  it  is  i^:!':^:.  a,  n '  :;r  i^i'-f  ^ 

as  at  least  one-half  of  the  ofl.o,-  l,..if'         •        ;         ^  '  ''"^' 
and  ego.,  ifc  i,  injunou     d         ■  """'''  "'  ^'"'"«  '""'-^ 

units  daily,  or  l^TuJ^r^        ''"""  ^""""^'  '^^  ^''''  ''' 
Juk      Tho  .  ""''  "^""^  ^"^  t''o  Hrst  half  of 


m 


;s     ■' 


r^ 


■  J 


362 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


reptiles ;  and  this  diet  may  be  considered  as  of  neutral  im- 
portance, economically  speaking. 

During  the  last  half  of  July,  and  through  August  and 
the  first  half  of  September,  its  diet  consists  of  about  half 
insects  and  mice ;  and  the  balance,  of  berries  and  small 
fruits.  It  is  thei-efore,  during  this  time,  beneficial  about 
thirty  units,  and  is  not  injurious,  otherwise  than  by  eating 
garden  fruits  or  grains,  —  items  that  I  do  not  consider  in 
the  i)resent  discussion.  From  the  middle  of  September 
until  November,  its  food  loses  much  of  its  fruit  character, 
because  of  the  failure  of  supi)ly,  and  it  feeds  at  least  two- 
thirds  on  insects  and  other  noxious  animals :  it  is  therefore 
beneficial  thirty  units,  and  is  not  injurious;  and,  during 
November  and  December,  it  is  beneficial  to  about  the  same 
extent  that  it  is  in  February  and  March,  or  about  forty 
units. 

We  have  now  but  to  condense  the  foregoing  results,  and 
we  have,  in  the  aggregate,  the  sum  total  of  the  Crow's 
merits  and  demerits. 

We  find,  that,  during  the  whole  year,  it  is  beneficial  to  the 
amount  of  229  units,  and  that  it  is  injurious  to  the  extent 
of  4,918  units.  If,  for  the  sake  of  the  greatest  indulgence, 
we  take  but  one-fourth  of  this  enormous  disproportion  as 
the  actual  fact,  we  still  have  an  exhibit  that  proves  at  once 
that  these  birds  arc  not  only  worthless,  but  are  ruinously 
destructive. 

In  presenting  this  extended  sketch,  I  will  say  that  I  am 
not  moved  in  the  least  by  prejudice  or  ill  feeling  for  a  much- 
disliked  bird,  but  that  I  state  the  facts  as  they  are,  and 
simply  to  throw  a  little  light  on  a  subject  that  has  given 
rise  to  much  discussion  and  controversy.  In  conclusion, 
I  will  say  that  the  Jays  are  equally  injurious  with  the  Crows, 
and  that  they  are  not  deserving  of  a  moment's  indulgence 
or  protection  at  the  hands  of  the  ruralist. 


neutral  im- 

lugust  and 

about  half 

and  small 

dcial  about 

[1  by  eating 

consider  in 

September 

;  character, 

least  two- 

s  therefore 

nd,  duriufj 

t  the  same 

ibout  forty 


esults,  and 
the  Crow's 


rfSSl©"; 


Hcial  to  the 
the  extent 
ndulgence, 
►portion  as 
cs  at  once 
ruinously 


'■  that  I  am 
or  a  much- 
r  are,  and 
has  given 
ionclusion, 
the  Crows, 
indulgence 


frni 


5^62 


ORMTHOLOOY   ANI»   OOLOGV. 


,..,...    ,i,,,i  ,,,:,,-,  1,1.  i  jiiaj.  in,  tjoiiiuuureu  as  ol  lioui! 
j'.ii'Uuicr'.  c-onohrrally  Hpeakiug. 


ajiiriou.,  MUK\  wiijo  ilian  •' 


■IS  food 


.,(i«i  oti 


su})|)iy,  au(l  it,  WunU  af 


1  I  I  1  !  V 

■  ml  "f! 


■  now  i  ^ 
in  the 


•  the  1-. 

■  m  toiai  c 

-it  it  i>i  i'yin-  i. 
ir  th«  mke  of 

iU  ex  ill  I  (it 


^£1:^, 


''"" '■'^^"' '^'- -/'"V...    w,u 


•M. 


^'!  im]w 


'  ■    I 


f.l 


■•f ^ 


THE   FISH   CROW.  ggg 

COEVUS  OSSIFEAGUS. -IF<&on. 
The  Fish  Crow, 

Corvus  Mslf vaffV8,Wihon.    Am.  OTn.,y.  mm  27     K„ttTir        t  „o 
Aud.  Orn.  B.og.,  II.  (1834)  268;  V.  479.  '  ^""^  ^^""■'  ^-  (^832)  218. 

Description. 

In  this  species  the  bill  is  shaped  much  as  in  the  Common  Crow  ti, 
perhaps  a  little  more  convex;    the  bristly  feathers  Tm  '  ''''"""  """'"« 

nearly  half-way  to  the  tip;  I  H„a  „„  b    1  Jpa    '        h    b    :  oZ  1  '"  ""  '■''''' 

The  -jvings  are  long  and  acute:  the  fourth  is  longest;  next  the  thir,l  fiff^ 
and  s.xth ;  the  tirst  is  about  as  long  as  the  secondares  '        '  '''°"''' 

Length,  about  filteeii  and  fifty  one-hunciredflis  in,.l,„„       •  *     . 

Ifab.  — South  Atlantic  (and  Gulf?)  coast. 

This  bird  is  so  extremely  rare  in  New  England,  that  it 
can  be  regarded  only  as  an  occasional  straggler     I  under 
stand  that  it  has  been  taken  on  Long  Island,  and,  on  one 
or  two  occasions,  in  Connecticut,  in  company  with  the  Com- 
mon  Crow. 

Audubon  says  of  the  habits  of  this  species,— 

"  While  on  the  St.  John's  River  in  Flori<la,  during  the  month  of 
February,  I  saw  flocks  of  Fish  Crows,  consisting  of  several  hun- 

of  the  Raven.  These  aerial  excursions  would  last  for  hours 
.  nrtug  the  calm  of  a  fine  morning,  after  which  the  whole  would 
descend  toward  the  water  to  pursue  their  more  usual  avocations  in 
a  the  sombthty  ot  their  nature.  Whe.t  their  fishing,  which  lasted 
ubout  half  an  hour,  was  over,  they  would  alight  in  flocks  on  the 
live  oaks  and  other  trees  near  the  shore,  and  there  keep  up  their 
gabble,  plumuig  themselves  for  hours. 

"The  nest  of  this  species  is  smaller  than  that  of  the  Conmion 
Crow,  and  is  composed  of  sticks,  moss,  and  grasses,  neatly  finished 


L!'.:{' 


V\lTi  I 


864 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


or  lined  with  fibrous  roots.     The  eggs  are  from  four  to  six,  and 
resemble  those  of  the  American  Crow,  but  are  smaller." 

Two  eggs  in  my  collection,  from  Florida,  aro  of  the 
above  description,  and  are  almost  exactly  like  the  others, 
measuring  a  little  smaller :  their  dimensions  being  l.GO  by 
1.10  inch  and  1.52  by  1.04  inch. 


Sub-Family  Garbulin^.  —  The  Jays. 

Wings  short,  rounded;  not  longer  or  much  shorter  than  the  tail,  which  is  grad- 
uated, sometimes  excessively  so;  wings  reaching  not  nmcii  beyond  the  lower  tiiil 
coverts;  bristly  feathers  at  base  of  bill,  variable;  bill  nearly  as  long  as  the  head,  (,i 
shorter;  tarsi  longer  than  the  bill  or  than  the  middle  toe;  outer  lateral  claws  rather 
shorter  than  the  inner. 

CYANURA,  SwAiNSON. 

Cyamrus,  Swains(W,  F.  Bor.  Am.,  IL  (1831)  495,  App.  (Type  Carms  cristatvs, 
Linn.) 

Head  crested;  wings  and  tail  blue,  with  transverse  black  bars;  head  and  back 
of  the  same  color;  bill  rather  slender,  somewhat  broader  than  high  at  the  base;  cul- 
men  about  equal  to  tiie  head;  nostrils  large,  nearly  circular,  concealed  by  bristles- 
tail  about  as  long  as  the  wings,  lengthened,  graduated;  hind  claw  large,  longer  than 
its  digit. 

The  culmen  is  straight  to  new  the  tip,  where  it  is  gently  decurved;  the  gonys  is 
convex  at  the  base,  then  straight  and  ascending;  the  bill  has  a  very  slight  notcli  at 
the  tip;  the  nostrils  are  large,  nc  arly  circular,  or  slightly  elliptical;  the  commissure 
is  straight  at  the  base,  then  bending  down  slightly  near  the  tip;  the  legs  i,r.«ent  no 
special  peculiarities;  the  crest  on  the  head  consists  of  a  number  of  elongated,  narrow 
lanceolate  occipital  feathers.  ' 

CIANURUS   CRISTATVS.  -  Sieainson. 

The  Blue  Jay. 

Om'us  cristntus,  Unnxus.     Syst.  Nat.,  L  (10th  ed.,  1758)  106.    Wils.  Am  Cm 
I.  (1808)  2.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IL  (18,34)  11;  V.  (1830)  475. 

Cynnunis  cristatus,  Swainson.     F.  Bor.  Am.,  IL  (1831)  App.  495. 

Dkscuiption. 
Crest  about  one-third  longer  than  the  bill;  tail  much  graduated;  general  color 
above,  light  purplish-blue;  wings  and  tail  feathers  ultramarine-blue;  the  secondaries 
and  tertials,  the  greater  wing  coverts,  and  Uie  exposed  surface  of  the  tail,  sharply 


Hl.UE  Jav,    ('iinniird  cri'sfdtn.     Swiiiiisoii 


^ 


1 

( ' 
1 

1     ' 

1 

■ 

- 

1  ■ 

tn  th 


'!'  ■  i; 


m 


\m' 


w 


THE  Bum  JAV. 


SOS 


b«mtf(!  Riil>  l.l,i..k,  mill  liniftillv  ti,,noil  ivilli  wliii..  o, 

""  "»• iiiiik  <,..„„i  „,  „„.  ,■„„,,'  ;„'"""■ ""  * ' ■i"i».i 

"»"'  "■'  ■ ■«".«  ».Hi .  1 viiiiii, :,' ,  i  "„  T  ■  ";•■  '"■ « '"'■ 

i;:;irirs;^;':;i::::;i--;;,:!:-;--:..ri.;:rr:: 

This  beautiful  au,l  well-known  hini   i„  „l„n„laullv  di, 
.   .ute,    throughout  New  EuRlauil.    It  i„  ,„„,  ,„ZJl 
he  northern  than  i„  the  southern  dintrie.,,  hut  i,  of.e     eo 
<lio™,  not  u,  co,n,,„n,.  with  the  Ca.utda  ,!„;,  howeve, 

Is  food  ,,  ntore  varied  than  that  „f  almost  any  other 
"■•■i  >M  we  have.    In  winter,  the  herrics  of  the  eedar    „ 
l«rry  or  hiack-thorn,  with  the  few  e^s  or  eoeeon    of  i, 
jcct»  t  at  it  i,  ahle  to  nn,l,  censtitut;  it,  ehie   .     ten    ,  e 
In  early  ,,,ru,^-,  the  opening  hud,  of  ,hruh,,  eaten  II      ' 
and  other  ,M,ect,,  atferd  it  a  meagre  diet.     Later  i        J 
pnng,  and  t  rough  the  greater  part  of  summer,  I,    eg 
and  young  o    the  s.naller  hird,  constitute  it,  c  uef  fS 
vartod  hy  a  few  inseet,  and   early  herrie,      I,u  ' .    ,  Tk' 
summer,  and  in  early  autunn,,  herries,  snndl  fr  i,",  ^^^ 
and  a  few  u.seets,  alford  it  a  bountiful  provender;  a  ,d  |a  „; 
in  the  antmnn,  when  the  frost,  have  hur,t  o,,e n  the  bn 
of  e hestnnts  and  beeelnntts,  and  exposed  the  brow ,    ril 
rn,t  to  v,ew  these  form  a  palatable  and  aeeeptable  f„„  | 
a  da  large  share  of  these  delicious  nuts  fall  to  the  po^o' 
of  these  Imsy  and  garrulous  birds  ' 

The  notes  of  the  Blue  Jay  eon,ist  of  a  shrill  cry   like 

rVyw-V/  repeated  often,  and  in  a  high  key;   a     1   ill 

"-tie    I,ke    the    syllables    >ry,»,.,.r,^,„,,^' ^,^ 

at  le,  son,eth,ng  like  a  Kinglisher-,  well-kno^n  alarum- 

and  an  exeechngly  sweet  bell-like  note,  that  po„t   s  ^ 

I  have  often  heard  this  tone  in  the  autumn,  when  the 
leaves  were  falling  from  the  trees,  and  all  nature  wore  Us 


'Hi. 


.     i 


i^Nii 


1 1  nummmtntnus 


w^i 


M 


.    II     HI 


C"u 


866 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


funeral  livery ;  and  it  seemed  to  me,  wlion  the  clear  notes  of 
the  hird  were  echoed  from  hill-side  to  hill-side  in  the  forest, 
that  it  was  wandering  like  a  forest  elf  through  the  trees,' 
mourning  the  decay  of  all  the  charms  that  had  made  them 
so  beautiful  through  the  spring  and  summer. 

About  the  first  or  seco^id  week  in  May,  the  Blue  Jay  com- 
mences building.  The  nest  is  usually  placed  in  a  fork  of  a 
low  pine  or  cedar,  in  a  retired  locality :  it  is  loosely  con- 
structed of  twigs  and  coarse  roots,  and  lined  with  the  same 
materials,  but  of  a  finer  quality,  and  sometimes  a  few  pieces 
of  moss  or  a  few  leaves.  The  eggs  are  four  or  five  in 
number.  Their  color  is  generally  liglit-green,  with  spots  of 
light-brown  ;  sometimes  a  dirty  brownish-gray,  spotted  with 
different  shades  of  brown  and  black.  The  dimensions  vary 
from  1.20  by  .85  to  1  by  .80  inch.  But  one  brood  is  reared 
in  the  season. 

PERfSOREUS,  Bonaparte. 

Pei-isoreus,  Bonaparte,  Saggio  di  una  dist.  met.  (1831).  (Type  Coitus  Cam- 
densis7) 

Feathers  lax  and  full,  especially  on  the  back,  and  of  very  dull  colors,  without 
any  bine;  head  without  distinct  crest;  bill  very  short,  broader  than  high;  culmen 
scarcely  half  the  length  of  the  heail,  straight  to  near  the  tip,  then  slightly  curved; 
gonys  more  curved  than  culmen;  bill  notched  at  tip;  nostrils  round,  covered  by 
bristly  feathers;  tail  about  to  the  wings,  graduated;  tarsi  rather  short,  but  little 
longer  than  the  middle  toe. 

This  genus  includes  the  species  of  dullest  colors  among  all  of  our  Jays.  It  has, 
too,  the  shortest  bill,  and  with  this  feature  bears  a  very  strong  resemblance,  in  many 
respects,  to  some  of  the  Titmice. 

PEEISOREUS   CANADENSIS.  —  Bonnparte. 

The  Canada  Jay. 

Corviis  Canadensis,  Linna;us.  Syst.  Nat.,  L  (17G6)  1.58.  Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  III. 
(1811)  .33.     Aud.  Orn.  liiog.,  IF.  (1834)  53;  V.  (1839)  208. 

PeworeMS  Cnnot/e/wig,  Bonaparte.    List  (1838).    76.,  Consp.  (1850)  375. 

Deschiption. 

Tail  graduated;  lateral  feathers  about  one  inch  shortest;  wings  a  little  shorter 

than  the  tail;  head  and  neck,  and  forepart  of  the  breast,  white;  a  plumbeous  browti 

nuchal  patch,  becoming  darker  behind,  from  the  middle  of  the  crown  to  the  back, 

from  which  it  ia  separated  by  an  interrupted  whitish  color;  rest  of  upper  pnr"^  ashy- 


THE   CANADA   JAY. 


867 


plumbeous;  the  outer  primaries  margined;  the  secon(lanV«.  f„rfi„i»       a  .  ■■,  .     , 

age,  the  region  about  the  base  of  the  bill  whitens  nn  1  fl.  ,  ..i  'V"',  "'-'^^'»«'"S 
ha^wara.  un.i.  the  whole  head,  excepti-^T'^i  ;r  '^i^ ^^1.^ ^hl 
under  parts  are  sometin>e.s  whiter  than  in  the  typical  specimens  ' 

J.en-th,  ten  and  seventy  one-hundredths  inches;  win-  five  andsrvnnt,.  r. 
hundredths  inches;  tail,  six  inches;  tarsus,  one  anj  for^ ^:::nC^:,Z^r' 

This  species  is  confined  to  tlie  nortliern  districts  in  New 
England,  where  it  is  resident  through  the  year.  I  have 
not  been  so  fortunate  as  to  find  the  nest,  and  will  have  to 
borrow  Audubon's  description  of  that  and  the  eo-og... 

"The  Canada  Jay  breeds  i,i  Maine,  in  Ne^v  Brunswick,  Nova 
Scotia,  Newfoundland,  and  Labrador.  It  begins  as  early  as  Feb 
ruary  or  March  to  form  its  nest,  which  is  placed  in  the  thickest 
part  of  a  fir-tree,  near  the  trunk,  and  at  a  height  of  from  five  to 
ten  feet.  The  exterior  is  composed  of  dry  twigs,  with  moss  and 
gmss  ;  and  the  interior,  which  is  flat,  is  formed  of  fibrous  roots. 
The  eggs,  which  are  from  four  to  six,  are  of  a  light-gray  color, 
faintly  marked  with  brown."  »     »    .r  . 

This  bird  is  not  generally  so  well  known  as  the  precedino- 
1  have  had  numerous  opportunities  for  observing  its  habits 
and  I  can  positively  affirm  that  it  is  equally  rapacious  and 
destructive  with  thu  Blue  Jay,  which  it  resembles  in  motions 
and  cry. 

I  once  knew  of  a  single  pair  of  the.ie  birds  destroying  the 
young  in  four  nests  of  the  Common  Snowbird  (J.  lu,emaUs) 
m  a  single  day.  I  found  these  nests  in  an  old  abandoned 
lumber-road  on  the  morning  of  June  20:  in  the  afternoon 
when  I  returned  through  the  same  path,  every  nest  was 
depopulated;  and  a  pair  of  these  Jays  were  lurkino-  in  the 
ti;ees,  shouting  defiance  at  us,  while  surrounded"  by  the 
afflicted  Snowbirds,  that  were  uttering  their  cries  of  com- 
plaint and  sorrow.  I  emptied  both  barrels  of  mv  .nm  in 
the  direction  of  the  Jays,  and  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 


ri: 

14    I 


If 


PITT 


!  '   ! 


ii.r 


I  (  , ' , 


368 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


H  ey  ha  0  k.llcd  no  young  bird,  since.    T],e  familiarity  mth 
vl Mcl,  tins  spoces  fraternizes  with  man  in  the  woods  is 
.ntorcsl.ng  and  amusing.    I  was  once  "snowed  in,"  as  the 
expression  is,  in  a  large  tract  of  forest,  and,  with  my  com 
>an.ons,  was  obliged  to  wait  until  the  sto  m  had  ceasrf 
before  we  could  resume  our  mareh.    We  rcn,ained  in  c  „' 
two  days     A  pan-  of  these  birds,  probably  with  yo,n  ™n 
the  ncghborhood,  visited  our  camp,  and  even  pcnetr^lt  d 
mto  our  tent  for  crumbs  and  pieces  of  bread.    Tife;  a  w  ! 
flew  ofrw,th  then-  mouths  full,  and  soon  returned  for  Zl- 
tl  e>r  visits  soon  got  to  be  any  thing  but  a  joke,  particuhrl 

elldn*Tilf«  ""T""  *'"=  '»^'  "'"-  <"  on;.'s„a!"'w 
eouJdn  t  kill  them,  however;  for  any  thing  with  life  wa, 

company,  and  we  felt  that  we  had  noiL  of  ttat  to  spill 


NOTES. 
I  present  a  continuation  of  Mr.  Couper's  valuable  notes 

CH^TDRA   PELASGU.--VcTy  abnn.hm     Tt  l,„ii  i.  ■. 
CHOEDEILES  POPETDE.-Vo,,  common.    I.  .lTO,i„  l,s  o„,„  i„  ,,  ,„„, 


liaritj  with 
5  woods  is 
in,"  as  the 
'i  my  com- 
»ad  ceased 
}d  in  camp 
young  ill 
penetrated 
•ey  always 
for  more : 
irticularly 
oap.     We 
1  life  was 
spare. 


NOTES. 


369 


'1g  notes, 
cribed  in 


"1(1  in  the 
le  pleasure 
rrives  here 

in  unused 
e  pair  will 
cliitnnoys 
J  one  is  in 
the  wooils 
rge  forest- 

rd  in  tlio 
'  latitude, 

in  a  small 
!ver  there 
s.    I  can- 


CEETLE  ALCrON.  — The  Kin^fl  i 

an.,  rivers,  and  breeds  PlentifunrS  ^X^v  e'"';""?"  °"^  "''^"'^  'o'^- 
"f  Quebec.  ^  P'^o'^ably  extends  three  degrees  north 

EMPIDONAX  TEAILLII— Tl,; 
woodlands  near  Quebec.     It  rare Iv  JSr'/'''""'   ''"""^'^  ^""^^er  in   the 
i^  -tre„.ol,  cunniug,  and  LSb,;    t;  I  "tf' '"'"  "•°'"  ^""^  ^-""'^• 
clump  of  bushes.  ^  ''^''^'^  "'«  most  hidden  portion  of  a 

TURDUS  PALLASn  _  Ti  ■   ♦! 

but  it  is  not  eonnnon.  'it  ll'r  ;n;^!':::S;hM""f '"^''"°''"^Q-bec; 
that  is  to  say,  the  latter  is  genera  vbu  ^  T  *''""  ^^^'^-^"'^  'i'"™«h 

of  a  bush,  While  the  fonner  is  oti'^l?:":     ,  ^\  ""  '"^^''^  P^"- 
11.0  cogs  of  7'./,„tt,,v  ,,,  „„^  ^„j  ^J^^J-lj"  a  heavily  branched  pi„e-tree. 

TUEDUS  FUSCESCENS  —  Tl  •    • 
br«,i,  pk.,„i,„ll,.  i„  ,|,i,  „;.i„|,|„;|' '';'"',"•■  """  "»"  "ommon  thrush,,.    I, 
»n«m.l,  ,„  ,h„  ,„„.„  „,„ .,:■':;,:' '"  """«">■  place,!  Z  „„ 

«..« »™  «,.„„„,„  ,„„„  „,.  „„,  ,„, ,.  ::,r,si;:;;;:;;;7 "  ■■"■"■  ^"« 

Canada.  *^^«t-     It  does  not  brood  in  Lower 

EEGDLUS  CALENDULA  —  Ti,; 

l-al.ra.Ior.  feenerally  ni  flocks.     I  think  they  breed  in 

MNIOTILTA  VASIA  — 'I'l.Jo         •     • 
I^  '-vever,  breeds  in  Ihe  neiglSir  7^^" '"  °"^  ^^^"'^^^  -°''^- 

GEOTHLYPIS  TRICHAS.  -  Very  common.    Breeds 

SEIDRUS  AUROCAPILLUS.-Con,nu,n.     Breeds 

-=z  ":;^;^;;;;^sr '-  -^-  -  -  -^  -t. . ... 

DENDROICA  CANADENSIS. -Comn>on.     Breeds 
DENDROICA  COEONATA  ~  V%>,... 
liroed  far  north.    "^°^^^^-^-^-  ^"onnnon  in  the  autumn.    I  think  they 

DENDROICA  BLACKBDENTW       ti  •    . 


I 


mm 


m- 


ff 


370 


ORNITHCLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


to  be  some  mystery  connected  with  the  breeding  localities  of  many  of  our 
Warblers.  Some  of  them  are  found  breeding  over  the  wiiole  of  temperate 
America,  while  others,  who  evidently  eat  the  same  kinds  of  food,  pass  to 
the  inaccessible  parts  of  the  northern  forests,  where  the  foot  of  man  never 
trod. 

DENPEOICA  CASTANEA.-This  is  another  of  the  mysterious  Warblers 
that  sho\w  itself  in  spring,  and  afterwards  slowly  departs  to  its  northern 
liermitage. 

DENDROICA  PINUS.  —  Spring.    Not  common.    Follows  its  kindred,  North. 

DENDEOICA  PENNSYLVANICA,  — Not  common.     Breeds. 

DENDEOICA  CEEULEA.  —  This  species  was  very  common  in  this  neigh- 
borhood  in  the  spring  of  18G0.    I  have  never  seen  its  nest  or  eggs. 

DENDEOICA  STEIATA.  —  Not  common.    Breeds. 

DENDEOICA  .ESTIVA.  — Common.    Breeds. 

DENDEOICA  MACULOSA.  —  Common.    Breeds. 

MYIODIOCTES  CANADENSIS. —Common.     Breeds. 

SETOPHAGA  EUTICILLA.  —  Common.    Breeds. 

PTEANGA  EUBEA.  — Karely  seen  in  the  woods  north  of  Quebec.  Tliey 
breed  in  the  maple  woods  ;  and  this  latitude  may  be  considered  its  northern 
limit  of  migration. 

HIEUNDO  HOEEEOEUM.- Uncommon.  It  builds  its  nost  on  the  beams 
of  out-houses  and  barns  in  this  neigliborhood. 

H.  LUNIFEONS.  —  Very  common.  It  builds  mud  or  clay  ne.sts  under  the 
thatched  barns  and  country-houses  near  Quebec.  Thev  "arc  protected  by 
farmers,  who  will  not  allow  them  to  be  disturbed  during  tlu'lr  stay  here 
They  return  annually  to  the  old  nests,  which  tiiey  repair. 

H.  BICOLOE.  —  Common.  It  builds  its  nest  in  any  hole  it  may  tind  in 
the  houses  in  the  city.  In  the  woo.Uand  districts,  it  generally  selects  an 
abandoned  Woodpecker's  nest  in  trees. 

COTYLL  EIPAEIA.  —  Common.    Breeds  in  every  sand-bank  in  the  country. 

PEOGNE  PUEPUEEA.-The  breeding-place  of  this  Swallow  is  c.ntined  to 
a  budding  called  the  Jesuit  Barracks,  of  this  city,  where  they  raise  tiieir 
young  every  .season.  I  have  repeatedly  tried  to  'nduce  them  to  occiiia- 
boxes,  but  the  White-bellied  Swallow  always  took  possession  first.  In  this 
locality,  the  Purple  xAIartin  loves  its  own  community,  and  will  not  be  induced 
to  occupy  the  most  tempting  abode  unless  made  sufficiently  large  to  accom- 
modate several  pairs, 

AMPELIS  GAEEULUS.  — During  severe  winters,  this  species  arrives  here 
from  the  north  to  feed  on  the  berries  of  the  mountain-ash,  which  grows 


t^ 


NOTES. 


871 


»  the  beams 


AMPELIS  CEDEOEUM.  — Common.     Breeds. 

COLLYEIO  BOEEALIS.- Arrives   early  in  Spring      I  tlnnV  H 

VIEEO  OLIVACEUS.  -  Net  common.     Breeds, 

MIMUS  CAEOLINENSIS.- Not  common.     Breeds. 

TEOGLODYTES  HYEMALIS.  -  Common.    Breeds. 

CERTHIA  AMEEICANA.- Common.     Breeds. 

SITTA  CANADENSIS.  -  Common  in  summer  and  winter.    Breeds. 

PAEUS  ATEICAPILLUS.  — Common.     Breeds. 

th..  loc,,B„.    T„e.  BO  in  flock.,  li"!  t^VI^LS"    """'  """""  '" 
PINICOLA  CANADENSIS.  — Arrives  from  tho  Nnrfi,    c 

p..«-  .1,1,  t„o  n„„,,„,,„  w.x.,„jLfrj"j,  'rjs^a'^ 

frequently  remain  during  winter.  ''^^^^^ 

CAEPODACUS  PUEPUEEUS.-  Common.     Breeds. 
CHEYSOMITEIS  TEISTIS.- Common.    Breeds. 
C.  PINUS.  —  Sometimes  common  in  winter. 

CUfiVIROSTEA  AMEEICANA. -Sometimes  ve^y  abundant  in  winter     I 
am  told  It  l)roeds  in  Nova  Scotia.  ^ 

C.  LEOCOPTERA.  -  Very  numerous  during  winter.    Breeds  in  Labrador 

^^ZZ^l-'—  '^  ''^  ^"-     «-^^  ^^  ^ab.dor  and 

FLECTEOPHANES  NIVALIS.  -  Common  in  winter.    Bre.  's  in  Labrador 
POOCiCTES  GRAMINEUS.- Common,     Breeds, 
ZONOTEICHIA  LEUCOPHRYS.- Common.    Breeds. 
Z.  ALBICOLLIS.  — Common.    Breeds. 
JDNCO  HYEM4L1S.  -  Common.    Breeds. 


f-  -J    ■  %^  I 


CYANOSPIZA  CYANEA.— Not  common. 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 

S.  SOCIALIS.  —  Common.    Breeds. 

MELOSPIZA  MELODIA.— Common.     Breeds. 

M.  PAIUSTBIS.  — Not  common  here;  but  it  breeds  in  some  of  the  soutli- 
ern  towns  of  Lower  Canada. 

PASSE2ELLA  ILIACA.  —  Not  common.    Breeds.    I  tliink  that  this  species 
is  more  aluiiidant  in  Labrador  during  summer. 

GUIRACA  LUDOVICIANA.— Not  common.    Breeds.   Quebec  may  be  con- 
sidered its  nortliern  limit. 


Breeds. 
Breeds. 


Tliis  is  tlie  most 


DOLICHONYX   ORYZIVOEUS.  —  Common. 

northern  limit  of  this  species. 

AGELAIU"  PHCENICEUS.  —  Tliis  species  is  a  very  rare  visitor  in  this 
neiglihorliood,  and  is  t-cen  only  in  the  spring,  when  on  its  passage  to  the 
swamps  in  the  West.     It  breeds  abundantly  at  Toronto,  Upper  Canada. 

SCOLECOPHAGUS  FERRDGINEUS.  —  Very  common  in  the  fall,  at  which 
season  they  visit  this  locality  on  their  passage  south.  Great  numbers  are 
shot,  and  sold  like  game  in  our  markets.  This  species  has  been  noticed  here 
as  late  as  the  LMth  of  :\ray,  when  it  disappears.  It  has  not  been  found  breed- 
ing witliin  the  ii  lirtable  portions  of  this  province. 


QUISCALUS  VERSICOLOP.  —  Bare  in  this  district.  A  few  pairs  have 
been  discovered  breeding  at  Three  Itivers,  between  this  city  and  Jlonti-eal. 

CORVUS  AMERICANUS.  — Common.  Breeds  in  largo  numbers.  A  few 
geneially  remain  here  during  winter.  They  feed  on  the  berries  of  the 
mountain  ash.  Tlie  old  nests  are  invaria!)ly  occupied,  and  the  birds  lay 
their  eggs  very  early.  I  have  seen  the  yomig  ones  fully  fledged  before  the 
24th  of  :May. 

CORVUS  CARNIVORUS.  —  Occasionally  seen  in  this  district.  It  breeds  on 
the  high,  rocky  portions  of  islands  in  the  lower  St.  Lawrence. 

CYANURA  CRISTATA.  — Abundant  in  the  mountains  nortli  of  this  city, 
where  they  breed. 

PERISOREUS  CANADENSIS.  —  Sometimes  very  conuuon  in  the  flill.  I 
Jiave  not  noticed  this  bird  In  the  vicinity  of  Quebec  during  summer;  l)ut, 
while  on  a  collecting  trip  down  the  St.  Lawrence,  in  the  month  of  .Inly,  I 
saw  number-  ot  the  old  and  young  in  the  woods,  at  a  place  called  Mille 
Vaches.  They  were  following  each  other  in  one  direction,  and  appeared  to 
me  to  have  hi-bits  similar  to  those  of  the  Black-cap  TitiTiouse.  From  this 
fact  of  its  occurrence  on  the  north  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  at  the  above 
season,  it  is  evident  that  they  bree.l  in  our  wild,  unfrequented  forests,  such 
as  may  bo  fomid  north  and  east  of  the  river  Saguenay.  I  have  offered  a 
high  price  for  the  nests  and  eggs  of  the  Canada  Jay;  but,  as  yet,  nothing  of 
the  kind  lias  appeared. 


3  of  the  soutli- 
lat  this  species 
ic  may  be  con- 


I  is  the  most 

t'isitor  in  this 
assase  lo  the 
)or  Canada. 

fail,  at  wliich 

numbers  are 

1  noticed  liero 

I  found  breed- 

V  piiirs  liave 
id  iMonti-e.'il. 

bers.  A  few 
crrios  of  the 
tlie  birds  lay 
'd  before  tlie 

It  breeds  on 

# 
of  tliis  city, 

1  tlio  fall.    I 

mnnier;  but, 

ith  of  .July,  I 

called  Mille 

appeared  to 

From  tliJs 

It  tlie  above 

forests,  such 

ave  offered  a 

:,  nothing  of 


i*c 


*v 


M 


,B!^^■m^ 


I 


1 


372 


•rr  Ti' 


S.  SOCIAL  : 
MIXOSI'. 
M.  PALf'.STk, 


|.- 


,tn  1;t>ro ;  Imf  i*  l.rpojs  i 


m 


ORTZIVOED 

iiej;  on  it 

SCOLt;c;ui'xU'JL">:;  fEi;*lUUIXl.iJii.  —  \,.i_v  ..aim. 
■t-"n  H.,>'-  -i.it  tlii,  liH'iil'iy  wii  Mu-ii   nassag--'  nonli. 

•'>iH  our  This  sjii-cics  fin«  '. 

lay,  wlli;:;  u  ii:^,i,i,iK'arn.      It  hUS  !iOt  I 

.0  poi  tioiiii  of  Uii.s  iiroviiice. 
.iUrs! M-s  VPBSIOOLOR  —  Karc.   in  this  liistrict       • 

I*  Rivers,  botwem  tJii- 
.a  yiMLKlw/iIii'-;  — t'i'inmoii.     Broeds  lu  laii 


onus  iuHv  ni';. 

'OfiUS,  -  <'ciu(,«i,ii!iAlly  seen  in  t!.;    ilisf 
!  tioas  of  islaiifi.s  in  the  lower  St    . 

iiiiant  in  Uie  inountaJn 


M 


Mi 


Wll.u   I'KiM.N.    Hrlu/HsUs  mi^imlnnn.      Sw;,i,..„n. 


I 


iinmigiil 


I 


THE   WILD   PIGEON. 


373 


SUB-ORDER   COLUMByE. 


The  bnsal  porti.-n  of  the  bill  covered  by  a  soft  nkin,  in  whidi  nro  situntod  the 
nostrils,  overliuiiK  \,y  an  iiu'iniibent  th>hy  valve,  tin-  ,ii.i,iii  iH,iti(in  linni  iind  ion- 
vex;  the  hind  ••■■•  on  tlie  same  level  with  the  rest;  the  anterior  tnc  will t  nieni- 

hiane  at  the  h„     ;  tarsi  ni.^ro  or  less  naked;  covered  latorally  and  behind  with 
hexagunul  scales. 

Family  COLUiAIBID.E.    Tuk  Doves. 

Bill  horny  at  the  tip;  tail  feathers  twelve,  only  occasionally  fourteen;  head 
smooth. 

Siih-Fainlhj  COLUMBIN.E. 

Tarsi  stout,  short,  with  Iniiisverse  seutellie  anteriorly;  feathered  for  the  basal 
tliird  above,  but  not  at  all  behind;  toes  lengthened,  the  lateral  decidedly  loir  .r  than 
the  tarsus;  win},'8  lenfjthencd  and  pointed;  size  large;  tail  feathers  twelve. 

This  section  of  dovis  end)raees  the  largest  North-.Vmeriean  species,  and  among 
them  the  more  arboreal  ones. 

ECTOPISTES,  SwAiNsox. 

lich/ihlts,  SwAiN.soT,,  Zool.  Jour.,  III.  (1827)  .3<i2.   (Type  O'hwiha  miffiviloria,  L.) 

Head  very  small;  bill  short,  black;  cuhnen  one-tliird  tlie  rest  of  the  head;  tarsi 

very  short,  half  covered  anteriorly  by  feathers;  inner  lateral  claw  niueli  larger  than 

miter,  reaching  to  the   ba.se  of  the  middle  one;    tail   very  long  and  excessively 

eaiieate;  about  as  long  as  the  wings;  lirst  ju'lnniry  longest. 

This  genus  is  readily  distinguished  from  the  other  CobtmhimE  by  the  excessively 
lengthened  and  acute  middle  feathers.  It  tin'merly  iiu'luded  the'  Cohimlm  CaroU- 
fi.WM,-  but  this,  with  more  propriety,  has  been  erected  into  a  dillerent  genus,  and 
will  Ijl'  found  in  the  next  section. 

ECTOPISTES  MIGEATOEIA.  -  Su-mnson. 

The  Wild  Pigeon;  Passenger  Pigeon. 

Culumba  mii/ratoria,  Linno-us.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1766)  285.    Wils.  Am.  Orn.    I 
(ISOS)  102.    And.  Orn.  liiog  ,  I.  (18;il)  .-ji'j;  y.  r.Ul.  '' 

Jidcjjisttf  mii/ratoriti,  8\vainson.     Zool.  Jour.,  III.  (1827)  355. 

Desckiption. 

Tail  with  twelve  feathers;  upper  parts  generally,  including  sides  of  body,  head, 
and  neck,  and  the  chin,  blue;  beneath,  purple  brownisli-red,  lading  behind  with  a 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


{./ 


w 


^ 


<i. ,    4b 


V      /a.     ^^^ 


% 


y.. 


MM 


1.0 


I.I 


III  2.2 
|2£ 

1.8 


■ 

1.25  1   1.4     ||.6 

^ 

6"     

► 

<9m 

/A 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


# 


V 


^> 


w 


'^<s  ^^ 


V 


^^ 


%^;.<^  <^.^'^^ 


^ 


A 


'S^. 
s. 


6^ 


^9) 


^7 


23  WEST  MAIM  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY    14580 

(716)  872-4503 


374 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


violet  tint;  anal  region  and  under  tail  coverts,  bluish-white;  scapulars,  inner  torfials, 
and  middle  of  back,  with  an  olive-lirown  tinge ;  the  wing  coverts,  scapulars,  and  iinier 
tertials,  with  large  oval  spots  of  blue-black  on  the  outer  webs,  mostly  concealed,  except 
on  the  latter;  primaries  blackish,  with  a  border  of  palc-blui.sh  tinged  internally  with 
red;  middle  tail  feathers  brown;  the  rest  pale-blue  on  the  outer  web,  white  intiT- 
nally ;  each  with  a  patch  of  reddish-brown  at  the  base  of  the  inner  web,  tbiliiwed  l)v 
another  of  black;  sides  and  back  of  neck  richly  glossed  with  metallic  golden-violet; 
tibia  bhiish-violet;  bill  black;  feet  yellow. 

The  female  is  smaller;  much  duller  in  color;  more  olivaceous  above;  beneath 
pale-blue  instead  of  red,  except  a  tinge  on  the  neck;  the  jugulum  tinged  with 
olive;  the  throat  whitish. 

The  blue  .A'  the  side  of  the  head  extends  to  the  throat  and  chin;  the  \ipper  part 
of  the  back  and  lesser  coverts  are  of  a  darker  blue  than  the  head  and  rump;  the 
inner  primaries  arc  more  broadly  margined  with  light-blue,  which  tapers  otf  to 
the  end;  the  axillars  and  under  surface  of  the  wing  are  liglit-bhie;  the  longest 
scapulars  have  the  black  on  botli  webs;  there  is  no  blue  on  the  outer  web  of  the  lirst 
tail  feather,  which  is  white,  and  the  inferior  s.irtiice  of  the  tail  generally  is  white. 

In  some  sfwciniens  the  entire  head  all  round  is  blue. 

The  immature  male  varies  in  having  most  of  the  feathers  of  the  head  and  bodv 
margined  with  whitish. 

Length  of  male,  seventeen  inches;  wing,  eight  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches; 
tail,  eight  and  forty  one-hundredths  inches. 


THIS  bird  lias  become  of  late  years  rather  scarce  in 
New  England ;  so  mnch  so,  that,  in  localities  where  it 
was  formerly  abnndant,  it  is  now  seen  only  occasionally  in 
small  flocks  of  a  dozen  or  fifteen.  It  is  a  resident  of  those 
States  through  a  greater  part  of  the  year ;  only  absenting 
itself  in  the  most  severe  portion  of  winter,  when  its  food  is 
usually  covered  with  snow.  It  depends  principally  upon 
acorns  and  beechnuts  for  subsistence,  and  is  most  abundant 
in  localities  where  these  nuts  are  found.  It  also  frequents 
grain-fields,  where  it  gleans  among  the  stubble  and  woods ; 
and,  when  berries  are  in  season,  it  feeds  plentifidly  upon 
them,  and  it  is  at  that  time  when  the  greater  number  are 
seen  in  New  England. 

Early  in  May,  the  birds,  although  associating  still  in  com- 
munities, as  in  sections  where  they  are  more  abundant, 
separate  into  pairs,  and  build  their  nest.  This  is  placed  in 
a  forked  branch  of  a  tree,  usually  in  a  swamp  or  thick 
wood.  It  is  constructed  of  twigs  and  leaves,  which  are 
loosely  arranged  into  a  frail  structure  hardly  strong  enougii 


head  ami  boilv 


iidredths  inches ; 


THE   CAROLINA   DOVE. 


375 


to  support  the  parent  bird :  it  is  but  very  little  liollowed, 
and  has  no  lining  of  softer  material.  The  female  deposits 
in  this  one  or  two  eggs,  on  which  both  birds  incubate. 
These  eggs  are  pure-white  in  color,  nearly  oval  in  form,  and 
have  the  slightest  roseate  tint  before  their  contents  are 
removed:  they  average  in  dimensions  about  1.54  by  1.10 
inch.  Many  writers  affirm  that  but  one  egg  is  laid  at 
a  time.  I  think  that  in  the  greater  number  of  nests  two 
are  deposited,  as  I  have  inquired  of  many  hunters  and 
woodsmen,  and  they  all  agree  on  that  immbcr. 


Suh-FumiJy  Zenaidin^. 

Tarsi  stout,  leiigtliencd;  always  longer  than  X\w.  lateral  toes,  and  entirely  with- 
out feathers;  the  tibial  joint  usually  denuded;  tarsus  sometimes  with  hexaL'onal 
scales  anteriorly;  tail  featliers  sometimes  fourteen. 


ZEXAIDURA,  Bonaparte. 

Zenauhra,  Bonapaktk,  Consp.  Avium,  11.  (1854)  84.    (Type  Columha  Caroli- 
nensiK,  L.)    I'robahly  named  previously  in  Comptes  Rendus. 

Hill  weak,  black;  culmcn  from  frontal  feathers,  about  (me-third  the  head  above- 
tarsus  not  quite  as  long  as  middle  toe  and  claw,  but  considerably  longer  than  the 
lateral  ones;  covered  anteriorly  by  a  single  series  of  scutelhe;  inner  lateral  claw 
considerably  longer  than  outer,  and  reaching  to  the  base  of  middle;  wings  pointed 
second  <,udl  longest,  first  and  third  nearly  equal;  tail  very  long,  equal  to  the  wings;' 
excessively  graduated  and  cuneate,  of  tburteen  feathers. 

The  fourteen  tail  feathers  render  this  genus  very  conspicuous  among  the  Xorth- 
American  doves.  It  was  formerly  placed  with  the  Passenger  Pigeon  in  /u'lopistes 
but  has  nothmg  in  common  with  it  but  the  lengthened  tail,  as  it  belongs  to  a  differ- 
ent sub-family. 

ZENAIDUEA    CAEOLINENSIS.  —  Bonaparte. 

The  Carolina  Dove ;  Turtle  Dove. 

Cohimha  Cm-oliitcnKh,  ]Amuvm.  Syst.  Nat,  I.  (1706),  28G,  Xo.  3?.  Wilg.  Am. 
Orn.,  V.  (1812)  91.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  I.  (1831)  91;  V.  (1839)  555.  Nutt.  Mmi.,  L 
(1832)  026.  ' 

Zenaidura  Carolinensis,  Bonaparte.    Consp.  Av.,  11.  (1854)  84. 

Dkschu'tion. 
Tail  feathers  fourteen;  above  bluish,  although  this  is  overlaid  with  light  brown- 
ish-olive, leaving  the  blue  pure  only  on  the  top  of  the  head,  the  exterior  of  the 


(.1      " 


I  ,5  I  1 1 


376 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


w.ngs  ana  upper  surface  of  ti.e  tail,  which  h  even  slightly  tinged  witli  this  color  • 
he  entire  head,  except  the  vortex,  the  sides  of  the  neck,  and  the  under  parts  gcncral- 
y,  light  brownish-red,  strongly  tinged  with  purple  on  the  breast,  becoming  lighter 
behind,  and  passing  into  brownish-yellow  on  the  anal  region,  tibia,  and  .n.der  tail 
coverts;  s.des  ot  the  neck  with  a  patch  of  n.etallic  purplish-rcd;  sides  of  bodv  and 
mside  of  v.-,ng8  clear  light-blue;  wing  coverts  and  scapulars  spotted  with  black 
mostly  concealed  and  an  oblong  patch  of  the  same  below  the  ear;  tail  feathers  seen' 
from  below  blackish,  the  outer  web  of  outermost  white,  the  others  tippe.l  with  the 
same,  the  color  becoming  m.,re  and  more  bluish  to  the  innermost,  wliich  is  brown  ■ 
seen  from  abo^•e,  there  is  the  same  graduation  from  white  to  light-blne  in  the  tips^ 
the  rest  of  the  feather,  however,  is  blue,  with  a  bar  of  black  anterior  to  the  light    in' 
which  runs  a    ittle  forward  along  the  margin  and  shaft  of  the  feather;  in  i\t  sixth 
feather  the  co  or  is  uniform  bluish,  with  this  bar;  the  seventh  is  without  bar;  bil 
black ;  feet  yellow.    Female  smaller,  and  with  less  red  beneath. 

Length  of  mai--   ^velve  an<l  eighty-five  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  five  and 
seventy-hve  one-hundredth. ;  tail,  six  and  seventy  one-hundredths  inches! 

This  beautiful  and  well-known  species  is  distributed 
throughout  New  England  as  a  summer  resident.  It  is 
more  rarely  sceu  in  the  more  northern  sections  than  in  the 
southern;  but  it  breeds  in  all  these  States.  It  arrives 
from  the  South  early  in  spring,  sometimes  by  the  lOtli  of 
March,  On  its  first  appearance,  it  is  found  in  small,  loose 
flocks  of  five  or  six  individuals,  wliich  fretiuent  old  stubble- 
fields  and  orchards,  whore  they  feed  on  scattered  grains  and 
the  seeds  of  various  weeds.  They  also  sometimes  associate 
with  domestic  doves  in  the  poultry  yard,  as  I  have  witnessed 
on  several  occasions. 

About  the  middle  of  .Afay,  they  separate  into  pairs,  and 
commence  their  duties  of  incubation.  The  nest  is  ],luced  in 
a  forked,  horizontal  branch  of  a  tree,  sometimes  in  the 
orchard,  usually  in  a  grove  of  pines  or  in  a  swamp.  It  is 
like  the  nest  of  the  Wild  Pigeon,  a  loose,  frail  structure  in' 
which  the  female  deposits  two  eggs,  which  are  pure-whito 
in  color,  and  usually  nearly  oval  in  form. 

A  great  number  of  specimens  in  my  collection,  from  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  country,  vary  from  1.20  by  .85  to  .iJcS  by 
.82  inch.  The  size  most  often  found  is  about  1.12  by  .80 
inch.     Two  broods  are  reared  in  the  season. 

About  the  last  of  July,  the  old  birds  and  young  collect  in 
flocks,  and  fretiuent  grain-fields,  where  they  feed  upon  the 


THE   CAROLINA   DOVE. 


vitli  this  color; 
■r  parts  Kenoral- 
■f<iinin{;  liK'iti'r 
,  and  under  tail 
es  of  body  and 
fd  witli  black, 
lil  fcatliers  seen 
ijMH'il  witli  file 
liich  is  brown; 
liic  in  tiie  tips; 
to  the  lifrht  tip, 
!•;  in  the  sixth 
thout  bar;  bill 


377 


grain,   and  bcrry-patches,   where    they   eat  plentifully   of 
bernes :  they  are  now  fat,  and  very  delicate  eiting ;  and,as 
ly  are  much  pursued  by  gtuuiers,  they  soon  betne  ve " 
shy,  and  diflicuU  of  approach.  ^ 

During  the  mating  season,  and  part  of  the  period  of  incu- 
bation, the  UKtle  has  a  soft,  melancholy  cooing  note  w  eh 
.0  titters  often  throtigh  the  day.  During  U.e  remahu 
^.0  year,  he  seems  to  have  t.o  tioto  ;  lo.  1  have  watched  ittdi- 
Mduals  for  hours  to  ascertain,  a.id  never  heard  them  emit 
any  thing  but  the  short  chuckle  peculiar  to  all  doves 

By  the  first  week  in  October,  this  species  leaves  New 
England  on  its  southern  migration. 


\     r 


'"'    ''ihijii 


378 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


SUB-ORDER  GALLING. 


Bill  usualh'  rather  short  and  stout,  and  less  than  the  head ;  basal  portion  hard, 
generally  covered  with  feathers,  and  not  by  a  soil  naked  skin;  legs  lengthened; 
the  hind  toe  generally  elevated  above  the  level  of  the  rest,  and  short;  when  lower 
down,  it  is  longer;  toes  connected  at  the  base  by  a  nienibrane;  the  feathers  of  fore- 
head not  extending  on  the  enbnen  in  a  point,  but  more  restricted,  and  parted  by  the 
backward  extension  of  the  culnien. 


Family  TETKAONID^E.     The  Grouse. 

The  Tetrnonithe  are  ]>re-eniinently  characterized  among  gallinaceous  birds  by 
their  densely  feathered  tarsi,  and  l)j'  the  feathers  of  the  nasal  fossa  or  groove,  which 
till  it  completely,  and  conceal  the  nostrils;  the  toes  are  usually  naked  (feathered 
to  the  claws  in  the  ))tannigans),  and  with  peetinatinns  of  scales  along  the  edges; 
the  tail  feathers  vary  from  sixteen  to  eighteen  and  even  twenty  in  number;  the 
tail  is  rounded,  acute  or  forked;  the  orbital  region  is  generally  somewhat  bare, 
with  a  naked  stripe  above  the  ujjper  ej-elid,  beset  by  short  fringe-like  processes. 

TETUAO,  Li.NN.KUs. 

Tetrno,  Linn.kus,  Syst.  Nat.  (1744)  Gray.     (Type  T.  iirogalhis,  L.) 
Tail  lengthened,  slightly  narrowed  to  the  square  or  somewhat  rounded  tip;  about 
two-thirds  the  wing;   the  feathers  with   stitlened   shafts;   tarsus   feathered   to  and 
between  the  bases  of  the  toes;   no  unusual  feathers  on  the  side  of  throat;   culnien 
between  the  nasal  fossa-  nearly  half  the  total  length;  color  mostly  black. 
Inhabit  wooded  regions. 

TETEAO  CANADENSIS. -/.i»n<KHS. 

Tne  Canada  Grouse ;   Spruce  Partridge. 

Tetmo  Cnnndensis,  Umxfcm.  Syst.  Nat.,  L  (17ti(i)  274.  Nutt.,  Man.  I.  (1S*2) 
667.    Ami.  Orn.  IJiog.,  II.  (1834)  437;  V.  (1)<3<J)  503. 

Desckii'tion. 

Tail  of  sixteen  feathers;  feathers  above  distinctly  banded  with  plumbeous; 
beneath  uniform  black,  with  a  ])ectoral  band  of  white,  and  white  on  tlie  sides  of  the 
belly;  chin  and  throat  above  black;  tail  with  a  broad  brownish-orange  teruiiual 
band. 

Prevailing  color  in  the  male  black;  each  fe.'ither  of  the  head,  neck,  and  upper 
parts  generally,  having  its  surface  waved  with  plumlieous-gray ;  this  is  in  the 
form  of  two  or  three  well-defined  concentric  bars,  parallel  to  each  other,  one  aicm;; 
the  exterior  edge  of  the  feather,  the  others  behind  it ;  the  sides  of  the  body,  tlie 


i    I 


lasal  portion  linnl, 
legs  leiij{thuiR'(l; 
<hort;  when  lowtT 
w  fwitlier.s  of  tbi'c- 
aiid  parted  by  the 


inaceous  birds  by 
I  or  groove,  wiiicli 
y  naked  (leatliered 
along  the  edges  ; 
y  in  number;  the 
y  somewiuit  bare, 
ike  processes. 


s,  L.) 

ounded  tip;  about 
feathered  to  ami 
)f  tliroat;  eulnieji 
black. 


t.,  Man.  I.  (1832) 


witll  pIllMllu'dlls; 
11  tile  sides  of  tile 
li-orange  teniiiual 


,  neck,  and  upper 
f,  this  is  in  the 
I  other,  one  aloni; 
I  of  the  body, the 


nWT 

Ttffffi 

1:^ 


w^^<. 


vV 


~V1  '  \'*     to 


JHOllS     JU     llio    \ 

lUUlllcl 


'  .  U.JUi 


1 ' ' 

i '        ,    ' 

^^  '   '"it 

^i^/'i 

^■U;   1 

fli^I 

1 

.! 

1 

.     i      nil    ll- 

1 

1       dj  k 

I 

i. 

,.,  ,>^^MMm 

1 

mim 


.  *ir^rf' 


if*- 


AV 


umiv 


"v\ 


THE   CANADA   (; ROUSE. 


870 


drnpiiliirfi.  nml  outer  siirliu'c  of  tlm  wiiiL's  nrc  niotil...!  liu,,  .1     i     i    i 

c.x,,«n,In,K  .n,v.,n..  ,ho  ,lp  (.,„  .,.o  ,,,„  ...ch.  „n.»ks  1;  ^     r.  "  "f 

pvuter  n.v.Tts);    then,  in  ii.,  whit,.  «l,„vr    ,.v.....,t  «-    i        V-  '  ""' 

urc  mo„ly  ....ifonu  l.Ia.k.  .lu,  U-.tuJ,/;        ,'  ,,:'',;' ''  '\"  """"^  "'"^^ 

"p •  -i.h  whi„, wi.i..h  .„.,.„ .;.n  V  ;  ,  ,;;  'V'''' '"'""' ,':^ ">■ 

""".^-""-  '"^ T  .-.oii..,  an..  :w;^:';;:!'i::;;;^,r ;;:;:;;;;'; •• 

r..nnn,«  into  «  H.Ti.H  of  wl,i,..  ..p.„s  in  ,|„.  r,.,.,i...,..s  of  ,1m.    Zt     I,       .       .'•.;""' 
...•this  „r..  l.au,le,l  ,..ri„i,„.lly  with  wl.i.isl,;   ,|...  r..,.,!    ,-  ,',  """"'■^ 

"'"1  "'•■  'i-1.  iMi.w  ,iu.  ..V.S  „ ,.„„„„    ;   Ik.     "i.  ""-'  ""• 

''t;;-; r' •  -y  :• r' ,. .,.  ou./j;:.:;:, '!:  .;:i'  ;,:;:,,^'';;;; 

tuil  (i.alJK.rs  ar..  siuiilar,  l.iit  darker,  and  tliu  (ail  \^  tii  ,„.,!  ;.i,i  f;'".^'-"'   'I'" 

clK....,nut,  uearlv  lu.l.'  an  i„..|,  wi.!.!    ol,Jr,,,nt  .'',''''''  I,  """«'-- 

tail  oovorts  are  l.laek.  I.roadiv  l.aned  and  tin,,  d      ,     vl  ,  .      :""'''     '"'  "'"''^"' 

' '"  ''■"» "  "'"""'■'  I'."  ""mvwlmi  >i,i,i|,„,  ,|,„  |,|,„,|,  ,,„„    I  

;""•■'  !";>■  '"■'  ■"■ "  "• '.  i»*"u..-  III.  ...ii.  r,.„i„, ,  ,,„';;; 

:i;;r=::::;t":!:,'r;:;;:^;r'™r:t,:r"r"'; '-=- 

l..n^'tl..  sixreen  and  twenty  onc-hundredths  inelies;  wine  six  and  «eve.„v  n., 
l"'n.lredtl..s;  tail,  live  and  (brty-lmn-  luuulre.lths  inehes.  ^    "" 

TT  is  only  in  tlio  most  rotiro.l  aiul  unscttle.l  localities  in 
X    nortl.oni  Xeu-  England  that  this  very  beautllul  grouse  is 
found.     There,  in  the  spruce  and  pine  mo.kIs  and  "swamps 
it  is  not  unconnnon  as  a  resident  tlirough  the  year.     1  have 
shot  specimens  in  the  Wiiite  Mountains,  between  what'  is 
called  Waterville,  a  handet  in  Thornton,  xV.Jl..  and  J^ethle- 
hem,  in  the  same  State ;  but  they  arc  more  commonly  Ibund 
in  the  localities  above  mentioned.     lu  its  native  haunts,  it 
is  very  unsuspicious,  permitting  a  j.erson  to  walk  within  a 
lew  ieet  of  it  without  stirring;  and,  when  it  does  take  fii-lit 
It  goes  but  a  few  rods,  when  it  alights  on  a  tree,  and  turns' 
to  watch  the  intruder. 

It  is  a  very  graceful  bird  on  the  ground,  moving  with  a 
stately  step  over  the  long  elastic  moss  so  abundant  in  the 
woods  of  Alaine. 

It  feeds  upon  the  buds  of  the  evergreens,  and  their  seeds 
and  foliage.  This  food  imparts  to  the  ilesh  of  the  bird  a 
disagreeable  resinous  flavor,  particularly  in  fall  and  winter 


'% 


m 


T] 


:i 


880 


OIINITIIOLOUY   AND   OOLOOY. 


when  it  can  get  no  other  food.  In  fact,  at  all  seasons,  it  is 
tUr  inferior  to  all  onr  other  gamo  birds  in  fio8h,and  is  never 
delicate  nor  palatahle. 

Ahont  the  middle  of  May,  the  female  scratches  together 
a  loose  nest,  beneath  the  branches  of  a  creeping  lir,  and 
lays  in  it  from  eight  to  twelve  eggs.  These  are  of  a  lieau- 
tifnl  yellowish-bnir  color,  with  spots  and  l)lotciies  of  two 
shades  of  brown:  one  a  piirplish-l)r()wn  ;  the  otlier,  a  bnrnl- 
sienna.  They  avenigc;  in  dinuMisions  al)ont  1.(18  by  l.:i(; 
inch:  their  form  is  generally  ovoidal ;  sometimes  nearly 
oval,  and  occasionally  more  ronnded.  It  is  said,  that, 
"  when  incnl)ation  begins,  the  males  go  apart  by  themselves 
to  different  portions  of  the  forest,  and  remain  nntil  late  in 
aninnm,  when  they  rejoin  the  females  and  yonng." 

This  species  lionrishes  well  in  conlinenient :  it  tames 
readily,  and  soon  eats  all  kinds  of  grains  and  seeds,  and 
pieces  of  potatoes  and  frnits.  It  rec^nires  a  large  cage  or 
coop,  and  is  contented  if  it  has,  now  and  then,  a  spruce  or 
cedar-tree  given  it  to  roost  and  climb  upon. 

CUITDONIA,  ItKiciiK.NnACH. 

Cii/whiiiii,  RKiniKNuArii,  Av.  Syst.  Nut.  (isno).    (Type  Titvan  Cup'uh,  \,.) 
Tail  short,  halt'  the  li'iiKtlifiicil  uiiij;s;  tliu  luathfi-s  stitlcTicd  and  iiKiru  or  h'ss 
graduatt'd;  haru  space  of  the  neck  conecaU'd  hy  a  tul't  of  lanceolate  feathers;  tarsi 
feathered  only  to  near  the  liase,  the  lower  joint  sculellate;  enlnien  between  the  nasal 
fobsui  scarcely  one-third  the  total  lengih. 

CDPIDONIA    CUPIDO.  —  liaird. 

The  Pinnated  Grouse;  Prairie  Hen;  Prairie  Chicken. 

Titnio  Cii/i!</(),  Liniiicus.    Syst.  Nat..  I.  (17«ti)  274.    Wils.  Ain.  Orn.,  III.  (1811) 
104.     Nntt.  Man.,  I.  tjij2.     And.  Orn.  Itiojr.,  U.  (18.'34)  4!I0;  V.  (1!?3'J)  C5». 
CupitloHid  Amtricdiia,  Ueichenhach.    Av.  Sy.st.  Nat.  (1850). 

DKSCltlrTlO.N. 

Tail  of  elf,'liteon  feathers,  varied  with  whilisli-brown  and  lirowiiish-yellow;  alincst 
everywhere  with  well-defined  transverse  bars  of  brown  on  the  feathers, 

Hody  stent,  compact;  a  tnfi  of  iontf,  pointed  liinceolate  feathers  on  each  side  of 
the  neck,  covi'rinjx  a  bare  space  capiible  of  ninidi  iiillation;  tail  short,  triilicale.  much 
graduated,  composed  of  eighteen  leathers,  the  lateral  leathers  about  two-tliinls  lliu 


TliE   PINNATKD  OROIJ  ^K. 


881 


mid.lle;  11)0  f..„th,.rH  stiffened,  nearly  linear  and  trnnnto-  tlu.  t,  i1  I. i    , 

:;:'r;::;nx';;;ri:;;;r':;;:7'"-T''"'r'"'-''"'-^"^ 

>        n.t  I,  M,  ini!  iwrc,  mil,  li,.xiiK.ina!  snitclho  bHiirul;  the  mi.lill..  t„„ 
»Md  .law  ioMKer  than  the  tarnim,  the  t.eH  nuirKin-d  I  v  „r,tin«t..,l  ,  ■■ 
above  the  eve  pr..vi,lnl  wi.h  u  .len,,e  pe..,i„',./p.  „    ,       "        '    "''r''^'  »  ^■'"■■« 

This  w,.lI-k„own  hinl  \h  mnv  n„„ul  in  Now  En^rla„,l  only 
oil  Miirthu's  Vin.-yunl  and  Nauslion,  and  ,„M-I.aps  ono  oV 
two  other  iHhi.ulH  „ir  the  southorn  coast  ol"  Massachusetts. 


It  was  once  prol.al.ly  very  abundant  in  all  the  aoutliorn  Xow- 
Kndand  S(a((>s:  hut  it  is  now  neady  cxtorminatod  hero; 
and  V(MT  soon,  in  all  pn.I.al.ility,  it  will  cease  to  ho  one  of 
our  hirds.  Having  had  no  o|.p„rtnnitios  for  ohservin<r  ^,,,1 
studying  its  hahits,  I  give  the  very  full  und  intorestin- 
description  jiresented  by  Wilson.  He  quotes  a  letter  de" 
scribing  some  of  its  habits  as  follows :  — 

^  "  Amo>n-s.  -  The  season  for  pairing  is  in  IMarch.  and  the  breed- 
"1-  hn.c  ,.s  continued  throngh  April  and  May.  Then  the  male 
(.rouse  distuiguishes  himself  l,y  a  peculiar  .sound.  When  he  utters 
It.  the  parts  about  the  throat  are  sensibly  inflated  and  swelled  It 
may  be  heard  on  a  still  morning  for  three  or  more  miles ;  some  say 


I 

i 

1'! 

}  i  \ 

ilil-  '11'  '.■' 


.^f:^::^. 


882 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I     ' 


ii 


they  have  perceived  it  as  far  as  five  or  six.     This  noise  is  a  sort  of 
ventrilocjuisin.    It  does  not  strilie  tiie  ear  of  a  bystander  with  much 
force,  but  impresses  liim  with  the  idea,  (hough  produced  within  a 
few  rods  of  liim,  of  a  voice  a  m\h  or  two  distant.     Tin's  note  is 
highly  characteristic.     Though  very  peculiar,  it  is  termed  toof/uf/, 
from  its  resemblance  to  the  blowing  of  a  <  onch  or  horn  from'u 
renioie  quarter.     The  female  makes  her  nest  on  the  ground,  in 
recesses  very  rarely  discovered  by  men.    She  usually  lays  from  ten 
to   twelve  eggs,  which  are  of  a  brownish  color,  much  "resemblin.* 
those  of  a  Guinea  lien.     When  hatched,  the  brood  is  protected  by 
lier  alone.     Surrounded  by  her  young,  the  mother-bird  exceedingly 
resembles  a  domestic   lien   and  chickens.     She   frequently  leads 
them  to  feed  in  the  roads  crossing  the  woods,  on  the  remains  of 
maize  and  oats  contaihcl  in   the  dung  dropped  by  the  trave]lin<' 
horses.     In  that  employment,  they  are  often  surprised  by  the  ])as- 
sengers.     On  such  occasions,  the  dam  utter'^  a  cry  of  alarm.     The 
liitle  ones  immediately  scamper  to  the  brush;  and,  while  they  are 
skulking  into  places  of  safety,  their  anxious  parent  beguiles  the 
spectator  by  dro<)j)ing  and  fluttering  her  wings,  limping  "doner  the 
path,  rolling  over  in  the  dirt,  and  other  pretences  of  inability  to 
walk  or  fly. 

^^  Food.  — A  favorite  article  of  their  diet  is  the  heath-hen  plum 
or  partridge-berry.  They  are  fond  of  whortleberries  and  cran- 
berries. Worms  and  insects  of  several  kinds  are  occasionally  found 
ii.  their  crops.  l?ut,  in  the  winter,  they  subsist  chiefly  on  acorns 
and  iho  buds  of  trees  which  have  shed  their  leaves.  In  their 
stomachs  have  been  sometanes  observed  the  leaves  of  a  plant  sup- 
posed  to  be  a  wintergreen  ;  and  it  is  said,  when  they  are  nmch 
pinched,  they  betake  themselves  to  the  buds  of  the  pine.  In  con- 
venient places,  they  have  been  known  to  enter  cleared  fields,  and 
regale  thei  selves  on  the  h'aves  of  clover;  and  old  gunners  have 
n'ported  that  they  have  i)een  known  to  trespass  upon  patches  of 
buckwheat,  and  pick  up  the  grains. 

"  3fu/rntion.  —  They  are  stationary,  and  never  known  to  quit 
their  abode.  Tlu>re  are  no  facts  slu.wing  in  them  any  disposition 
to  migration.  On  iVosty  mornings,  and  during  snows,  they  i)erch 
on  the  upper  branches  of  pine-trees.  They  avoid  wet  and  swampy 
places,  -md  are  remarkably  attached  to  dry  ground.     The  low  and 


^,R, 


THE   PINNATED   GROUSE. 


888 


open  brush  is  preferred  to  l.in;Ii  shrubbory  ami  thickets.  Into  these 
latter  places  they  fly  for  refuge  when  ciosely  pressed  by  tlie  hunt- 
ers ;  and  liere,  under  a  stiff  and  impenetrable  cover,  tliey  escape 
the  pursuit  of  dogs  and  men.  Water  is  so  seldom  met  witli  on  the 
true  Grouse  ground,  that  it  is  necessary  to  carry  it  along  for  the 
pointers  to  drink.  The  flights  of  Grouse  are  short  bur  sudden, 
rapid,  and  wliirring.  I  liave  not  heard  of  any  success  in  taming 
them.  They  seem  to  resist  all  attempts  at  domestication.  In  this* 
as  well  as  in  many  other  respects,  they  resemble  the  Quail  of  Ne\v 
York  or  the  Pailridge  of  Pennsylvania. 

''Mmners.  —  Duvmg  the  period  of  mating,  and  while  the 
females  are  occupied  in  incubation,  the  males  have  a  practice  of 
assembling,  principally  by  themselves.  To  some  select  and  central 
spot,  where  there  is  very  little  underwood,  they  repair  from  the 
n.ljoining  district.  From  the  exercise  performed  there,  this  is  called 
a  scratchlng-phtce.  The  time  of  meeting  is  the  break  of  day. 
As  soon  as  the  liglit  appears,  the  company  assembles  from  every 
side,  sometimes  to  the  number  of  forty  or  fifty.  When  the  dawn 
is  past,  the  ceremony  begins  by  a  low  tooting  from  one  of  the 
vX)cks.  This  is  answ(>r('d  by  another.  They  then  come  forth  one 
i)y  one  from  the  bushes,  and  strut  about  with  all  the  pride  and 
ostentation  they  can  display.  Their  necks  are  incurvated ;  the 
feathers  on  them  are  erected  into  a  sort  of  ruff;  the  plumes  of' their 
tails  are  expanded  like  fans  ;  they  strut  about  in  a  style  resembling, 
as  nearly  as  small  may  be  illustrated  by  great,  the  pomp  of  the  Tur- 
key-cock. They  seem  to  vie  with  each  other  in  stateliness  ;  and,  as 
tliey  pass  each  other,  frcfpiently  cast  looks  of  insult,  and  utter  notes 
(.f  defiance.  These  are  the  signals  for  battles.  They  engage  with 
wonderful  spirit  and  fierceness.  During  tliese  contests,  they  leap  a 
f(.ot  or  two  from  the  ground,  and  utter  a  cackling,  screaming,  and 
discordant  cry. 

"Theyliave  been  found  in  these  places  of  resort  even  earlier 
tlian  the,  appearance  of  light  in  the  east.  This  fact  has  led  to  the 
belief  that  a  part  of  them  assemble  over  night.  The  rest  join  them 
in  the  morning.  This  leads  to  the  further  l)elief  that  they  roost  on 
the  ground ;  and  the  opinion  is  confirmed  by  the  discovery  of  little 
rings  of  dung,  apparently  deposited  by  a  flock  which  had  passed 
the  night  together.    After  the  appearance  of  the  sun,  they  disperse. 


!  :n:  !  '  ! !  ■«  li!' 


384 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


"  These  places  of  exhibition  liave  been  often  discovererl  by  the 
hunters ;  and  a  fatal  discovery  it  has  been  for  the  poor  Grouse 
Tlieir  destroyers  construct  for  themselves  lurking-holes  made  of  piuj 
branches,  called  hough  houses,  within  a  few  yards  of  the  parade 
Hither  they  repair  with  their  fowling-pieces,  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  night,  and  wait  the  appearance  of  the  birds.     Watchinrr  the 
moment  when  two  are  proudly  eying  each  other,  or  engaged  in 
battle,  or  when  a  greater  number  can  be  seen  in  a  range,  they  pour 
on  them  a  destructive  charge  of  shot.     This  annoyance  has  been 
given  in  so  many  places,  and  to  such  extent,  that  the  Grouse,  after 
having   been   repeatedly  disturbed,  are   afraid   to  assemble.'     On 
approaching  the  spot  to  which  their  instinct  prompts  them,  they 
perch  on  the  neighboring  trees,  instead  of  alighting  at  the  sc'ratch- 
ing-place ;  and  it  remains  to  be  observed  how  far  the  restless  and 
tormenting  spirit  of  the  marksmen  may  alter  the  native  habits  of 
the  Grouse,  and  oblige  them  to  betake  themselves  to  new  ways 
of  life.  '^ 

"They  commonly  keep  together  in  coveys,  or  packs,  as  the 
phrase  is,  until  the  pairing  season.     A  full  pack  consists,  of  course 
of  ten  or  a  dozen.     Two  packs  have  been  known  to  associate.     I 
lately  heard  of  one  whose  number  amounted  to  twenty-two.     They 
are  so  unapt  to  be  startled,  that  a  hunter,  assisted  by  a  dog,  has 
been  able  to  shoot  almost  a  whole  pack,  without  making  any  of 
them  take  wing.     In  like  manner,  the  men  lying  in  concealment 
near  the  scratching-placos  have  been  known  to  discharge  several 
guns  before  either  the  report  of  the  explosion,  or  the  sight  of  their 
wounded  and  dead  fellows,  would  rouse  them   to  flight.     It   has 
further  been  remarked,  that,  when  a  company  of  spm-tsmen  have 
surrounded  a  pack  of  Grouse,  the  birds  seldom  or  never  rise  uimu 
their  pinions  while  they  are  encircled ;  but  each  runs  along  until 
it  passes  the  person  that  is  nearest,  and  then  flutters  off  whh  the 
utmost  expedition.  Samukl  L.  Mitciiill." 

IIo  then  contimics  witli  his  own  observations :  — 

"This  bird,  though  an  inhabitant  of  different  and  very  distant 
districts  of  North  America,  is  extremely  i)articular  in  selecting  his 
place  of  residence ;  pitching  only  upon  those  tracts  whose  featJU'cs 
and  productions  correspond  with  his  modes  of  life,  and  avoidin.r 


THE  PINNATED   GROUSE.  335 

immense,  intermediate  regions  that  he  never  visit.      O 
plains,  thinly  interspersed  witli  trees  or        ,^'  '"'''•     ^P^"'  dry 
shrub  oak,  are  his'favorite  halT '  1^-  ^^^f  7  T^' 
bn-ds  on  the  Grouse  plains  of  New  Jerserin  S;:if  Co     ." 

over  the  .hole  :^te::r  ^ irT^ ^ ^^i  :r!^^"^^' 

ant  plains  and  prairies  of  the  Indiana  Territo  v    L  V         ^'""■• 
ana;  and,  according  to  the  information  of  tl  e  ^  clv.r  t""'^" 
on  the  vast  and  remote  plains  of  the  Columh  :  Ri?;:    Hi  le" 
places  preserving  the  same  singular  habits.  '  '^''"^ 

"  1  heir  predilection  for  such  situations  will  be  best  accountP.l  f 
by  considering  the  following  facts  and  eircums  ances      "s 
mode  0      ight  is  generally  direct  and  laborious  T,      HI  clc;;:: 
for  the  labyrinth  of  a  hi.rh  and  thict  fi.m.f  ,  \  calculated 

with  trunks  and  arms  of  tr        t      t  '  "'  '"'"^^^^"^ 

tion  of  Wing,  or  sudden  i::^Srt::;r  C ::  ?" '^^^  ^^^^"- 
accustomed.  I  have  always  oWrved  ttm  to  oj  Z7T 
tnnbered  groves  that  occur  here  and  there  i^  0  B  1  '^^ 
i.ectedwith  this  fact  is  a  circumstance  related  on  w' 
respectable  inhabitant  of  that  country;  vi/  L  o^  f  "^  '"^ 
cock  Grouse  struck  the  stone  chimney'ofh  shtt  v^^h  ",";"'  ' 
as  instantly  to  full  dead  to  the  grouiul.  "'^  ^""''^ 

"  Secondly,  their  known  dislike  of  nn,ul«    ^      1 
place,,  wInch  .hey  ,„.„ia  „,.  ,„  oc^L     ,    ^  tkr^br^n  "''T 
it  is  Wi«x.<l,  never  from  such  „hr,:     '      """« '""""I'l"'".  »nJ, 

;;™"ari,  „.  „ee„  .,.e„  :^^T  ^r^::crs::::': 

■'"  a  large  eage,  as  she  I';,,:  I"  i  t't^f f;'','"  '-^,  "" 
l.e  remarked  „,at  s„e  never  <,rank,  and  !',:„,      „\S"'r; 

.«,s,  where,  e„e,t  ,Ue  dr„,.s  of  de/a'nd  dr„;r„;"L:::ri: 

2tj 


,1    •' 


i: 


M    . 


886 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND    OOLOGY. 


mi 


m 


liiiU^ 


1  t 


I  I 


very  rarely  to  be  mot  with.  For  the  space  of  a  week,  he  watched 
her  closely,  to  discover  wlictlier  she  still  refused  to  drink ;  but, 
thougli  she  was  constantly  fed  on  Indian  corn,  the  cup  and  water 
still  remained  untouched  and  nntasted.  Yet  no  sooner  did  he 
again  sprinkle  water  on  the  bars  of  the  cage,  than  she  eagerly  and 
rapidly  picked  them  oft'  as  before. 

"Tiie  last,  and  probably  the  strongest,  inducement  to  their 
preferring  these  plains  is  tlie  small  acorn  of  the  shrub  oak,  tlio 
strawberries,  luickleherries,  and  partridge-berries,  with  which  they 
abound,  and  which  constitute  the  principal  jiart  of  the  food  of  these 
birds.  These  brushy  thickets  also  afford  them  excellent  shelter, 
being  almost  impenetrable  to  dogs  or  birds  of  prey. 

"  In  all  these  places  where  tiiey  inhabit,  they  are,  in  the  strict- 
est sense  of  the  word,  resident ;  having  their  particular  haunts  and 
places  of  rendezvous  (as  described  in  the  preceding  account),  to 
which  they  are  strongly  attached.  Yet  they  have  been  known  to 
abandon  an  entire  tract  of  such  country,  when,  from  whatever 
cause  it  might  proceed,  it  became  again  covered  with  forest.  A 
few  miles  south  of  tin;  town  of  York,  in  Pennsylvania,  commences 
an  extent  of  country,  formerly  of  tlie  character  described,  now 
chiefly  covered  witli  wood,  but  still  retaining  the  name  of  barrens. 
In  the  recoliection  of  an  old  man  born  in  tliat  part  of  the  country, 
this  tract  abounded  with  (irouse.  The  timl)er  growing  up,  in 
progress  of  years,  these  birds  totally  disappeare<l ;  and,  for  a  long 
period  of  time,  he  had  seen  none  of  them,  until,  migniting  with  his 
family  to  Kentucky,  on  entering  the  liarrens,  he,  one  morning, 
recognized  the  well-known  music  of  liis  old  acquaintance,  tlie 
Grouse,  which,  he  assures  me,  are  the  very  same  with  those  he 
liad  known  in   Pennsylvania. 

"But  what  appears  to  me  the  most  remarkable  circumstance 
relative  to  this  bird  is,  that  not  one  f)f  all  tliose  writers  who  have 
attempted  its  history  have  taken  the  least  notice  of  those  two 
extraordinary  bags  of  yellow  skin  which  mark  tlui  neck  of  the 
male,  and  which  constitute  so  striking  a  peculiarity.  These  aijpciir 
to  be  formed  by  an  expansion  of  the  gullet,  as  well  as  of  the  exte- 
rior skin  of  the  neck,  whi(;h,  when  the  bird  is  at  rest,  hangs  in 
loose,  pendulous,  wrinkled  folds  along  the  side  of  the  neck;  the 
supplemental  wings,  at  the  same  time,  as  well  as  when  the  bird  is 


THE   PINNATED  GROUSE.  gST 

flying,   lying  along  tlio  nock.     But  wl„.n  fi         i 
with  air,  in  I,m.Ung-tin,.>,  M.,.y  i! !  ^  '""  '"»\-'«  "'A'^^^'l 

-omhlo  in  00,0..,  a  nu.Wlo-si.^,  ,.„,  ^j.,  l::;'  '"i  ;:7  ^^II 
lliii  curious  npDiiraiu,  ,,-lii„|,  i.  ,.  ,         '"'"'■     ''J  """"»  o( 

va,-,l,  „ff,  1.0  i     ,,        i  ,      '"y  "''"""''I'  '"voml  I l,,a 

ibncl  ai  „v„, '  V  ■  ™    I,'  ;    ''"  "":,  '"'"■"'"■■li""'y  so.m,l  „,„„. 

otl,c.r.,.     W,,e„  »v,.;,;  a,.  '.  "Z!^'^  ^  '-'i'  -  *e 

;.i..gnis,,  u.  ,.,,na,.i.,  of  u,.„  u^w'o  !i  L :  :•  °  ,:;'t 

times,  ono  contiiiucil  biimmi,,.,  wlii,  I,  I.  ,11  ,  ,  °         '"'' 

■•"'"■  f- "" ..»»i'.iii.y  "f  »-L:,  rr:r::.:i,'::*- 

ovoii  fniiirter,  it  nrooi'orl^      AVi.-i       ..     •  tlihtiuioo,  or 

....1  doso  before  Ms  ,■„„„„,  as  c,  <i.Lj:' ^^:,T,^y"■ 
«.on,wi.bo,..,j4'„s;::;;:;;:;z::;:r^^^*"'° 

""..iTil  l.y  tl,„  males  wliile  , ,:,  ;„  ,i„l,  'i'.  ,"'"^  ""' 

- :Jy  «itii  ,„o,,,  „„iio„  „,„„  ,,„■,,,,[    .,.  ,,7""""  "'  ''"■i«T», 

'■'■ Ii"l.'  1-for.  .lay,„.oak  .„  ,.,,.     ^  i  „;;,",""■"''  r"'"'"' 

"  Fresli-pionghod  fiolds.  in  tlic  x-i.-inifv  nf  tl,  • 

'" '"""'I  '"'■  """■■■  lliaii  a  niilo  olf.     Tlio  ,„.o„l,.  of  ,1 

;; - ■ '■"■"™.-- ■  c::'t:.zj"z: 

<>"    I-    .'.avs  ,„  ,l,,,.i,s,  ,„K-  „,;„,  „,„     „„„  »       I    S 

«,u.r,,  Igi-a,,,,  of  , „  ,„,„,  '^,,„„_;^  W,  '  , 

A.  ™,.h  „,„os,  great  ,m„,bers  are  ,ak,.„  i„  ,„,,„.     No  „    i,     bl 

'■>«■,  or  legiilar  ,, Ian,  bas  ever  „  ,„,.,i,le.l  i„  ,,,  k,         , 

::"--.l.  t...lo.nes,ioa,e  tbese  Celieio;,,  bh'    .     A    I     B    /X 
.  V  ,  bo.„.„e„  U,e  Pilot  Ki.obs  a„„  ,. ,,„„,„  ,„,.,  „;,  «::;'; ^ 


888 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


years  ago,  one  of  hio  sons  found  a  Grouse's  nest  with  fifteen  eggs, 
whicli  he  brought  home,  and  ininieduitely  i)hiced  beneath  a  hen  then 
sitting,  taking  away  her  own.  Tlie  nest  of  the  Grouse  was  on  the 
ground,  under  a  tussock  of  long  grass,  formed  with  very  little  art, 
and  few  materials :  the  eggs  were  brownish-white,  and  about  the 
size  of  a  pullet's.  In  three  or  four  days,  the  whole  were  hatched. 
Instead  of  following  the  hen,  they  compelled  her  to  run  after  them, 
distracting  her  with  the  extent  and  diversity  of  their  wanderings ; 
and  it  was  a  day  or  two  before  they  seemed  to  understand  her 
language,  or  consent  to  be  guided  by  her.  They  were  let  out  to 
the  fields,  Avhere  they  paid  little  regard  to  their  nurse ;  and,  in  a 
few  days,  only  three  of  them  remained.  These  became  extremely 
tame  and  familiar,  were  most  expert  flycatchers;  but,  soon  after, 
they  also  disappeared. 

The  eggs  of  this  species  arc  generally  ovoidal  in  form, 
and  arc  often  pretty  sliarjily  tapered  at  their  small  ends. 
They  vary  in  color  from  a  dirty-drab  to  a  grayish-white,  and 
are  covered  more  or  loss  thickly  with  fine  spots  or  dots  of 
brown :  some  specimeas  have  none  of  these  markings,  while 
others  are  abundantly  spotted.  A  large  number  of  speci- 
mens in  my  collection  average  about  1.80  by  1.25  inch  in 
dimensions. 

BONASA,  STicrnEss. 

Bomsn,  Stephens,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XI.  (1819).  (Type  Tetrno  honasia,  L.) 
Tail  widonins  to  the  end,  its  feathers  very  broad,  as  long  as  the  wings  ;  tiic 
feathers  soft,  and  eigliteen  in  number;  tarsi  naited  in  the  lower  liah';  covered  with 
two  rows  of  hexagonal  scales  anteriorly,  as  In  the  Ortm/iiuF;  sides  of  toes  strongly 
pectinated ;  naked  space  on  the  side  of  throat  covered  by  a  tuft  of  broad  soft  feathers ; 
portion  of  culnien  between  the  nasal  fossic  about  one-third  the  total  length;  top  uf 
head  with  a  soil  crest. 

BONASA  TJiiBELLVS.  — Stephens. 

The  Ruffed  Grouse ;  Partridge ;  Pheasant. 

Tetrao  vmbellm,  Linnanis.     Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1760)  276.     Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  YI. 
(1812)  46.    And.  Orn.  Uiog.,  I.  (1S31)  211 ;  V.  560. 

Tetrao  {Bonasia)  umbelliis,  Bonaparte.     Syn.  (1828),  126.    Nutt.  Man.,  I.  (1832) 

667. 

Bonaaa  umbdlus,  Stephens.    Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.,  XI.  (1824)  300. 


THE   RUFFED   GROISE. 


889 


Descripti(»n. 

Tail  of  oifThtocn  foatliers,  rcddish-l.n.wn  or  Rray  above-  tl.o  hnnt     -.u       . 
.pots  of  lighter,  beneath  whitish,  transverselv  barred  S'. I       .  ^'"'cordate 

with  ,ra>j  and  wit.,  a  subtern.ina.  bar  of  ...;k;  Z^l^i^  o  Z  n.tn  ■.  r' 

lail   h'ngthened,  nearly  as   long   as   the  win--    v,>rv  ),     1         . 
rounded;  the  .fathers  ve^-load  and  truncaleZt;,,^^, ':::,;';:'  ^  J '■'''^ 
number;    upper  half  of  tarsus  only  feathered-    b^ire  b,.|,h  ,  '     ^      '"  '" 

rows  of  hexagonal  scutelhe  anterioWy;  u         ed    '  .ce  o  "",      ;'';"''  "'"'  ^^^ 

eealed  by  an  overhanging  tnll  of  b,id,  t^:       ;S.:  s    U^;^  ^^  '"^^^  ^"": 
processes  above  the  eye,  where  the  skin  instead  is  clothed  ^i  or    etj:::'"^^' 

Length.  e,ghteo„  inches;  wing,  seven  and  twenty  one-hundredt^:  "    ^  .even 


This  beautiful  and  wcll-knowu  bird,  commonly,  but  vorv 
miproperly,  called  Partridge,  is  a  general  resident  in  nil  the 
^cw-Lngland  States  throughout  the  year.     In    the  moat 
retired  localities,  and  in  the  near  vicinage  of  towns,  it  is 
lound  almost  equally  abundant ;  and  its  habits  and  cliarac- 
tcnstics  are  the  same  in  all  localities,  except  that  in  thickly 
settled  districts,  in  coiise«iuence  of  its  being  more  ptirsned 
by  sportsmen,  it  is  much  wilder  and  more  dinicult  of  ap- 
proach than  in  less  settled  neighl,orhoods.     So  tamo  and 
nnsuspicons  are  these  birds  in  the  deep  forests,  that  I  have 
iiad  considerable  difficulty  at  times  in  flnshin.r  them     AVhen 
I  have  approached  tl.em,  instead  of  flying  off,  as  they  should, 
they  stood  watciiing  me  like  so  many  barn-yard  fowls  •  and 
when  I  walked  up  to  within  a  few  feet  of  them,  to  get 'them 
awing,  — for  no  true  sportsman  will  ever  kill  a  game  bird 
unless  It  IS  flyi„g,_  they  only  retreated  slowly  into  a  thicket 
oi  undergrowth,  and  remained  there  until  actually  forced  to 
lake  flight. 

About  the  first  of  May,  sometimes  a  little  earlier,  more 
often  later,  the  female  withdraws  from  the  society  of  the 
male,  and  repairs  to  a  retired  spot  in  the  woods,  where 
usually  beneath  a  thicket  of  evergreen,  or  a  bunch  of  brush' 
or  perhaps  a  fallen  log  or  rock,  she  scrapes  together  a  few 
leaves  into  a  loose  nest,  and  de])osits  from  eight  to  twelve 
eggs.  These  arc  usually  of  a  yellowish-white,  sometimes 
a  darker  color,  sometimes  nearly  pure-white.     They  are 


800 


OItNITFIOLO(JY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I  t 


r 


IIUIH 


usually  ovoidal  in  form,  sometimes  nearly  rounded,  and  tlioir 
dimensions  average  about  1.65  by  1.20  inclies:  apecinuMis 
are  occasionally  I'ound  mucli  larger  than  this  size,  and  many 
considerably  smaller.  In  about  fifty  specimens  before  me, 
collected  perhaps  in  ton  dilferent  States,  about  live  are  of  a 
yellowish-bulf  color,  marked  uifh  numerous  sjiots  of  brown  ; 
others  are  more  yellowish,  and  have  more  obscure  spots 
while  the  greater  number  have  no  nuirkings  at  all. 

From  several  instances  which  have  conic  to  my  knowl- 
edge, 1  am  inclined  to  think  that  the  female  Knifed  (irouse, 
if  persistently  molested  when  nesting  on  the  ground,  avails 
herself  of  the  abandoned   nest   of  a  crow,  or  the   sluslter 
alVorded  in  the  top  of  some  tall  broken  trunk  of  a  tree, 
in  which  she  deposits  her  eggs.     Two  of  my  collectors  in 
Northern  Maine  have  sent  me  eggs  which  they  positively 
declared  were  found  in  a  crow's  nest  in  a  high  pine,  but 
which  arc  undoul)tcdly  of  this  species ;  and  recently  1  have 
heard  of   another  occui-reiuje  from  my  friend  L.  E.  llick- 
secker,  of  Tennsylvania.     The  only  satisfactory  theory  that 
I  can  advance  to  account  for  these  departures  irom  the 
usual  habits  of  the  Grouse  is,  that  the  birds  had  been  nnich 
disturbed,  their  eggs  or  young  perhaps  destroyed  ;  and  as 
they  arc  often  in  the  trees,  and  are  expert  climl)ers,  they 
laid  their  eggs  in  these  lofty  situations  to  secure  ju'otection 
from  their  numerous  foes  below. 

During  the  season  of  incuI)ation,  the  males  congregate 
together  and  remain  a|)art  from  the  females,  until  the  young 
birds  are  nearly  full-grown  :  they  then  join  them,  and  remain 
with  th(Mn  tmtil  the  ensuing  spi'ing. 

Earl^-  in  spring,  the  male  begins  "  drumming:"  this  haliit 
is  })eculiar  to  this  sjiecies,  and  is  i)robal)ly  familiar  to  all 
persons  who  have  passed  much  of  their  time  in  the  woods. 

I  have  heard  this  drumming  as  early  as  February,  and  as 
late  as  September;  but  ustnilly  it  is  not  lieard  much  before 
the  first  of  April.  The  l)ird  resorts  to  a  fallen  Iruidc  of  a 
tree  or  h)g,  auM,  while  strutting  like  the  male  Turkey,  beats 


THE  nUfTED  OOOIISE. 


891 


o.co.        In,  ,„,„l„cos  ,.  I,„ll„w  dnM,„„i„K  n"i„e,  tl.at  may 
« owly    a,ul    a(to,.  a   few  s„,,k.„,  ff,„.l„ally  i„.,.ou.e.s  h 

1,1'  7      "■'"""""'"  "■'"'  "  "'"'"'«  ''"'"  '"'>  -""I"'-  to 
the  roll  oi  ii  (liuni. 

I  k..<nv  not  by  wlwit  lu^v  of  acoustics,  but  tins  drununin.. 
IS  pecuhar  m  soundi..!.  equally  as  lot.,1  at  a  considerable, 
d.s  auco  off  a,  ,v.(hiu  a  few  rods.  1  have  searched  f.u-  tho 
bu-dwhcn  have  heard  the  drunuuiuo.,an,l,..hile  supposing 
mu  to  bo  at  a  consulerable  distance,  have  flushed  hiu  vithiu 
the  distance  of  fifty  f.et,  and  ./..  versa. 

The  youn^^  birds,  like  those  of  all  our  Gallincv,  follow 
the.r  mother  almost  as  soon  as  they  are  hatched.  I  have 
often  found  these  broods  in  the  woods,  and  can  com- 
pare then,  to  .u,thing  so  much  as  the  chicks  of  domestic 
poultry. 

The  (iMnale,  when  her  family  is  surprised,  quickly  gives  a 
-jrnn.o.  ,l,ek,  when  the  whole  brood  adroitly  concealthen.- 
selves.  I  have  known  a  number  to  disappear,  as  if  by 
inag.c,  beneath  a  bunch  of  leaves  or  g.ass ;  and  it  required 
a  long,  careful  search  to  discover  their  whereabouts 

I  ..Mce  came  suddenly  upon  a  covey  of  these  y-.un.-  birds 
when  the  mother,  taken  by  surprise,  uttering  a  ha^sh  crv' 
llew  at  my  loot,  and  conunenced  picking  it  fiercely-   the 
young  scrambled  olf,  uttering  faint /...A.,  when  the  old  bird 
perhaps  astonished  at  this  departure  fron.  her  usual  nu)d- 
esty,  suddenly  retreated,  and  concealed  herself.    The  voun-- 
birds  associate  with  the  female  until  scattered  by  sporhn-en 
or  by  a  scarcity  of  provender.     They  are  nu.ch  more  deli- 
cate as  food,  when  about  two-thirds  grown,  than  the  old 
birds,  as  they  have  less  of  that  peculiar  bitter  taste,  and 
have  a  rich  llavor,  almost  similar  to  that  of  the  Woodcock 

ll.e  food  of  this  species  consists  of  various  seeds,  berries 
jrrapes,  and  insects.      When  nothing  else  can  be  obtained,' 
tl'oy  wdl  eat  the   leaves  of  the  evergreens,  and  buds  of 


hfl 


.  Ill, 

\miMI 


892 


ORNTTIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


trees ;  and,  when  all  other  food  is  covered  with  snow,  tlioy 
eat  dried  pieces  of  apples  that  are  loft  hanj,'iiij5  t»"  the  trees, 
mosses,  and  leaves  of  the  lanrel.  It  is  after  feeding  on  this 
last  plant  that  their  ilesh  becomes  dangerous  to  be  eaten ; 
and  it  is  always  safe  not  to  eat  these  birds  in  winter,  if  they 
have  been  killed  for  any  great  lengtli  of  time,  or  if  their 
intestines  and  crops  have  been  left  in  them. 

One  habit  that  this  species  has  is,  I  believe,  peculiar  to 
it;  and  tiiat  is  its  manner  of  diving  into  the  deep  snow 
to  pass  the  night  in  cold  weather:  this  it  does  very  fre- 
quently, and  its  snowy  covering  affords  it  a  warm  and 
cfTectual  protection,  lint  if  it  rains  during  the  night,  and 
then  the  weather  changes  to  freezing,  the  Grouse,  im[)risoned 
beneath  the  crust  that  forms  on  the  surface  of  the  snow, 
soon  dies ;  and  it  is  noticed,  that,  in  seasons  after  winters 
when  the  weather  frecpiently  changes  from  raining  to  freez- 
ing, there  is  a  scarcity  of  these  birds.  It  is  a  conunon 
oecurrence  to  fmd  them,  in  the  spring,  dead,  having  perisliod 
in  this  manner. 


THE   VIRGINIA   PAHTIIIDQE. 


893 


Family  PERDICID.T:.    Tmk  Pautk.doks. 

Nostrils  I.rot..,.t.Ml  l.y  a  nnkcd  «caIo,  the  t«r.i  hare  an.l  scUdlat.,. 

II.'!-.'. 1.... ri./.i"/l,    .:,;;,, ;r''ri '"""'■""i«"»i 

.■v..r,  shows  „.c.  naked  space  arouM.l  an.l  U.ov.,  .h.  v  .'.n      ,'"'-■:  w  "' 

un.l  th..  siilrs  of  th.,  t,„.s  s<am.|v  cxhiln.  il,    ,       i  '  '''''""""'"' ! 

cussion  of  sn.all  scale,  or  plZ.'^  "  '""""""  '"^""""""  '-"--^  "^^  "  -- 

Suh-Fdmih/  OuTYGiNit;. 
Bill  .stout,  the  lower  manaible  „,„ro  or  less  hhlenta.e  on  oaeh  si.lo  near  the  end 
a.  a  K-oup  l.v  ,l,e  l.i,„.n„;,io,.   -a  either  s,,     J   '!  '''""'  ""  ^•'""■-»-i..-d 

""'1   'ather  l,i«h  at  base,  stouter  an.l  M,„r,er  tl        w|  \^ 

World  partridges,  the  cuhnen  is  curv ^'"  t;;',:  ,  I'';  ';:,;'  ''!  ^"t 

OUTYX,  Sn-rmcNs. 
Orfi/x.STEnrKNs,  Shaw's  Oen.Zool.  XI  (iHio^    n\.n„  7- ,       .-    •. 
H.ll  stout,  head  entirely  without  anyerest;  tail  short,  seareelv  „,„re  than  half 

.he  w„,,  composed  of  n,oden.tely  so.  teather.,  win«s  „o;„.d,      i^^^^l^^^^^^^ 
toes  reaching'  consideniMv  l,ev I  the  tii.  of  the  tail-  •),    i  .      i.    '""V  "•"-"• '"° 

.....ir  claws  tilling  decidedly  "short  of  th;  C  ^f  ^  I^Mlinilr  ""^'""""'• 

OfiTYX   VlRGimATiVS.- Bonaparte. 
The  Virginia  Partridge;  Quail;  Bob-white. 
Telrao  I'in/hiiaiiiis,  Linmeus.     Syst.  Xat.,  I.  (17(i(l)  077 
Penllx    Virnnunna,  AVilson.    Am.  Orn.,'vr.  (1S12^  2I      A„,l    Om    ir 

Ort!,x  IV,y«;,,»„  .lardine.     Nat.  Lib.  liirds.  IV.,  (Jume  liinls,  101. 
y  enlix  (  0,/„i,.a)   I  m/imana,  Xuttall.     Jlan.,  I.  (1832)  646. 

I'K.SCIillTIOX. 

Forehead,  an.l  lino  thn.u^.h  the  eyo  and  alo.,.^  the  side  of  the  nock   with  chin 
and  throat,  w   ,to,  a  baud  of  bl,...k  across  the  vertex,  and  cx,o„,li„,  b     kw    d      , 
to  sules,  w.un  the   wlnte,  and  another  from  the  maxilla  beneath  the  eye  ani 
.rossn.,.  ou  the  lower  par,  of  the  throat,   the  under  parts  are  white,  tin.    1  wi  b 
brown  antenorly,  each  feather  with  several  narrow,  obtusely  V-sha  e     b     d 


I  ill  ii 

fIff"F: 


894 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


Iiluck;  the  forpimrt  of  Imok,  the  liilu  of  llio  lircant  mid  in  front  Juxt  hi'low  the  black 
collar,  of  a  diill  |iiiiklr'li-ri'(l;  llic  kIiIch  of  hmly  ami  w'iuk  ciivcrtH  hrownUli-ri'd;  lliu 
lattiT  alniiiat  iiiiiiorin,  witlmut  iiiditatioii  ol  iiinttliii^;  :<ca|iularM  and  ii|i|ior  tcrtlaU 
fOKriicly  blotclii'd  with  black,  and  vd^t'd  internally  with  brownixh-ycllow;  top  of 
huad  rcddi.-h;  the  lower  part  of  neck,  cxccpf  anteriorly,  hlrt-akcd  with  wliili;  and 
black;    pi'iniiiry  ipiills  uuxpotlcd  brown;    tail  aHli. 

I'Vniaii'  with  tlio  wliitu  niurkiiit(H  of  the  head  replaced  by  bruwninh-yellow ;  tlie 
black  waniin^' 

TIiIh  Hpeeiei*  U  Hubject  to  considerable  variationx  both  nf  hI/o  and  colur,  ilie  more 
northern  lieinj;  con>-idenibly  the  bir^jer;  noiithern  Hjiecimens  are  <larl\er,  with 
mure  black  alioiil  the  lii'ad,  on  the  win^s,  and  the  middle  of  the  back;  there  in  .Mho 
u  more  appreciable  mottlintj  on  tlie  win^^i,  and  thu  fvathura  uf  thu  buck  uru  ittrval.rd 
with  black. 

Luii^'th,  ten  itichcfi;  w'lnii,  four  and  Bovunly  unu-hundrudthH  inchc  ;  mil,  two  and 
ei),'hty-tive  onc-hundredthx  inches. 


ri^UIS  boiuitiriil  bird,  very  iinj)roj)orly  called  tlio  Qiiuil,  is 
JL  not  \v\-y  common  in  any  part  of  New  Kii<.',lan(l  north 
of  Massachusetts ;  and  in  tliat  State  it  is  rapidly  hocomino; 
rare,  both  in  consctpuMico  of  the  destructive  jmrtinaciiv 
with  which  it  is  followed  by  all  H|)ortsme!i,  and  the  abdiiii- 
nablc  practice  of  snariii<;'  iuid  netlin*''  it,  that  is  jfrowiii"'  too 
common.  In  ]\hissachusctts  and  the  other  southern  New- 
England  Stiitos,  it  is  partiidly  migratory  in  the  full;  repiiir- 
ing  to  the  neighborhood  of  the  seaeoast,  Avhere  it  renaiiiis 
two  or  thrcse  weeks:  it  returns  to  the  fields  and  swamps,  by 
the  first  fall  of  snow,  where  it  passes  tlu;  wiiittM-.  Its  baliits 
are  pretty  well  known  in  New  Knglaiid ;  but,  that  my 
readers  may  know  al)ont  it  elsewhere,  I  give  tlie  very  inter- 
esting description  by  Wilson,     ile  says, — 

"  Tlicv  arc  most  ntimcntus  in  tlic  vicinity  uf  wcll-ciihivatcd 
phmtutioiis,  wlien;  gniiii  is  in  plenty,  'flu'y,  liowevcr,  occasionally 
seek  slielter  in  the  woods,  percliing  on  the  liiaiielies,  or  w'Cfctiiijf 
themselves  among  tlie  bn;  'v.-ood  ;  Init  ;u'e  t'oiinil  most  u>ually  in 
ojieii  lields,  or  iiloiig  t'enees  f-ht  If ered  !>y  thicket  o''  hriers.  Where 
they  are  not  too  nuicli  ]  ■ '<!jtL'(l  i>y  the  sportsmen,  tliey  liecoiiie 
almost  halt' domesticated  ;  approiieh  the  barn,  particularly  in  wiiiler, 
and  sotnetimos,  in  that  severe  season,  mix  with  the  poultry  to  glean 
aj)  a  sabsisteace.  They  remain  with  iis  the  whole  year,  and  of'ini 
saffer  extremely  hy  long,  liai'd  winters  and  deep  snows.     At  smii 


i 


below  lliu  lilark 
>wiiiKli-ri'(l;  lliu 
il  ii|i|iL>r  tirtiaU 
yellow;   top  ol' 

willl    wllilu    llllll 

ish-yellow;  thu 

I'ulor,  the  iiiiirn 
e  iliirker,  willi 
k;  tliei'i:  is  ilso 
ek  uru  tita>ul.i'(| 

i»\  tail,  in  (I  iiiid 


THE   VIUUINlA   I'AUTKIIXJI;. 


.^Of) 


timrs.  (Im*  arts  of  nmn  co!nl)iiu)  witli  iho  i„(;lf 


!i»(  III 


I'm-  their  iUh(nicti.)ii.  To  tl 
of  a  iiioru  iiisidiotiH  kind  ;  tr 
tioii,  ill  Niicli   places   iih   tliey  ar(f   k 


mttiify  of  tlio  m-uHoii 


va;r,.H  of  the  n„„  ,„.„  „,|,i^,,|  ^^,| 


ill'-*  iin-  i.hireil  on  aliuu^t 


R'lH 


formed  of  lath,  (»r  thinly  Hplit  Mick 


iiowii  to  fre-imiit.     Ti 


every  phiiita- 


lie.si!  aro 


olitii 


Mt)  eoiie.  laced   tu'rctl 


uilh  a  hli.lii);^  lid,  to  taki:  out  tl 


«.  soiiiewhat  in  the  Hhapo  of 
a  Ninall  holu  at  u 


"'I'  with  cord,  haviii" 


(he  cominoii  lijriiro-foiir  tri^'ijer,  and 


le  frame  hv.     Tin 


S    IH    Hll 


lUI 

)l). 


Pixiited  liy 


Icfidiii;?  to  tho  place.     Jly  this  conl 


«mm   IS  scattered  |„.l,,w  n,,.! 


times  heen  tal 


'<en  at  a  time, 


rivaiice,  ten  or  lifteeii  huvu  some- 


The    I'artrid're   1 


»e<diis    to   liiiild 


eai 


■ly  in  I\ray.     T| 


made  on  the  ^vouud,  usually  at  Ih,.  hott.an  of  a  thi.'k 
that  shelters  and  conceals  it.     T| 


III'   nest  in 
tuft  (if  i:rass. 


It!  materials  arc  leav 


<iry;,rrass  in  consideraidi"  <pianfity.     It  is  well 


t's  and  line 


ill!  opeliinir  left  ,,|,  „iu!  side   fl 


'•••vercd  aliove,  and 


>'•  entrance.     Th^  female  lays  f 


(il'teeii    to    twenty-four  e-^s,  of   a    pure-whit..,   will 
Tho  tinio  of  incuhatiou  has  lieen  stated 
at  lijiir  Weeks,  when  thi'  ("nrs 


roiii 


to  me,  l,v  vario 


out  any  sp(jts. 


Were  placed  und 

c  youiii,'  leave  the  nest  as  soon  as  tliey  are  I 

i"(l   aiv   conducted  ahoiit   in   s<.arch  of  food   by  t|„.   fi.ni'd 
rni.h.l  l.y  her  voice,  whi,.li.  at  that  time,  resemhies  th.>  iwitt 


IIS  persons, 
ler  llic  domestic  Hen. 
'•••"I  from  the  slicll 


ler  w  in";s,  in  tlii! 


of  yoiin;,'  chickens,  and  shelt<'red  by  1 

as  those  of  the  (h)inestic  fowl,  hut  with  all  that  se<-re( 

tioii  for  their  safety  which   their  helpl 


are 
eriiMf 


same  manner 


■y  and 


rc((uir( 


In  til 


essness  and  greater  d; 


prccaii" 


IS  situation,  shoidd  the  litth;  timid  family  1 


iiiirer 


Iicctedly  surprised,  the  ntmost  al 


iinii   and   coiisternal 


y  lie  unex- 


prevail.     The  mother  throws  herself  in  t|„.  path,  (| 
and    l)eatin;ir    the    firound   with    her 


ii>n  instantly 
'iiitterinjr  aloiii--. 


iisiiiir  every  artiliee  she  is  niisli 


Wounded 


'ess  o 


suit  of  herself;  utterin>r,  at  tl 


wm;;s,  as   if  sorely 
t  to  entice  the  passenirer  in  i 


iiir 


alarm,  well  Mii<lerslood  l.y  the  vtMiii;;,  who  iliv 


e  same  time,  certain  iKruliar  notes  of 


tile  .irrass.  and  secrete  themselves  till  th,.  ^\^,^, 
paiviit.  haviiiir  decoyed  the  pur>uer  to  a  safe  d 


t!  separately  anion-fst 


ciivuildus   route,   to  collect  and  lead   tl 


i.irei-  is  over:  and  the 
istance,  returns,  l.y  a 


iMMiici'uvre,   which   iiiim    times    in  t 


lem  off.     This  well-k 


iiown 


to  the  feeliiiijfs  and  jud,iiment  of  the   |,ird.  | 
man.     'J'he  atfectioiiato  inotl 
cnicltv  of  his  natiii 


en    is   successful,   is   1 


!ionoral)l(! 


)iit  a  severe  satire  on 


ii'i-,  as  if  sensil.le  (.f   tli 


avaricious 


r,  tempts  him  with  a  larg<'r  prize,  to  save  I 


ii'r 


'Il 

Ik: 


■fl 


>;■; 


ORNITHOLOOV   AND   OOLOGY. 


more  helpless  offspring ;  and  pays  him,  as  avarice  and  cruelty  ought 
always  to  bo  paid,  with  mortification  and  disappointment." 

lu  a  great  iniinbcr  of  eggs  in  my  collection,  from  many 
different  localities,  some  specimens  are  nearly  pure-white, 
while  others  are  smeared  with  some  blotches  or  continent 
dabs  of  yellowish :  whether  thes3  are  stains  caused  by 
moisture  or  dirt,  I  fvm  ignorant ;  but  tliey  are  permanent, 
for  I  cannot  remove  them  ly  water  or  alcohol.  I  judge  they 
arc  stains  from  the  earth  or  decayed  ve^i,ctation  on  vvhicli 
they  were  laid.  Their  form  is  pyriform ;  and  their  average 
length  about  1.20  inch,  and  greatest  width  1  inch. 


NOT  E  S. 

I  continue  Mr.  Ooupor's  notes,  made  at  Quebec,  Lower 
Canada : — 

ECTOPISTES  MIGRATOKIUS.  —  Tlie  rassonper  Pigeon  is  not  so  con,inon 
in  tliis  portion  of  Lower  as  in  Upper  Canada,  wiiere  tliej'  breed  in  lnrue 
numbers.  Tliey  arc  found  breeding  in  the  eastern  townships  of  Lower 
Canada;  but  1  liave  not  aseertained  tiuit  tliey  breed  in  this  district  or  north 
of  it.  1  remember  at  one  time  finding  a  nest  of  this  pigeon  in  the  woods 
north  of  'l\)r()nto :  it  contained  a  single  young  one.  1  believe  there  are 
many  instances  of  its  breeding  in  solitary  p.airs,  something  like  the  Wood 
Pigeon  of  Eiu'ope. 

ZENAIDURA  CAROLINENSl'S  —The  Carolina  Dove  has  never  been  noticed 
in  Low.'r  Canada.  It  jccurs  occasionally  in  the  woods  north  of  the  city  of 
Toronto,  whero,  I  bcliove,  it  breeds. 

TETRAO  CANADENSIS.  —  This  species  is  very  common  frotn  October  to 
February.  They  are  in  prime  condition  during  the  last  month.  It  l)reei!s 
on  both  sii'es  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  lint  more  common  on  the  soutii.  During 
the  above  months,  tliere  are  generally  six  males  to  one  feniiile  exhiliiti'il 
on  our  markets.  The  inhabitants  inform  mc  that  fenuUes  are  very  scarce 
during  winter.  This  is  a  parodox  to  me,  when  I  know  that  botii  male  aiul 
f'  male  feed  on  the  same  tree.  What  is  also  astonishing,  the  nest  and  eggs 
of  this  bird  are  as  bard  to  discover  in  spring  as  the  female  is  in  winter.  I 
have  offered  to  purchase  every  nest  of  this  s]iecies  brought  to  me ;  but, 
strange  to  say,  I  have  not  been  fortunate  in  seeing  one  yet. 

BONASA  UMBELLUj.  —  Common.  Breeds.  I  have  repeatedly  found  the 
nest  of  tills  species. 


ORDER   V.  —  GRALLATORES. 


397 


icbcc,  Lower 


ORDER  v.  — GRALLATORES.  1    Waders. 

Legs,  neck,  and  usually  tlie  bill,  much  lengthened ;  tibia  bare 
for  a  certain  distance  above  the  tarsal  joint ;  nostrils  exposed ;  tail 
usually  very  short;  the  species  live  along  or  near  the  water,  more 
rarely  in  dry  plains,  wading,  never  swimming  habitually,  except 
perhaps  in  the  case  of  the  P/udaropes. 

The  bill  of  the  Grallutorcs  is  usually  in  direct  proportion  to  the 
length  of  legs  and  neck.  Tho  toes  vary,  but  are  usually  connected 
at  the  base  by  a  membrane,  which  sometimes  extends  almost  or 
quite  to  ihc  claws. 

The  GraJhitores,  like  the  Rasores  and  Natatores,  are  divisible 
into  two  sub-orders,  according  as  the  species  rear  and  feed  their 
young  in  nests,  or  allow  them  to  shift  for  themselves.  The  follow- 
ing diagnoses  express  the  gencM-al  character  of  these  subdivisions  : 

Hkrodionks.  — Face  or  lores  more  or  less  naked,  or  else 
covered  with  feathers  difFerent  from  tl'ose  on  the  rest  of  the 
body,  except  in  some  Gruula ;  bill  nearly  as  thick  at  the  base  as 
the  skull ;  hind  toe  generally  nearly  on  same  level  with  the  ante- 
rior :  young  reared  in  nests,  and  recjuiring  to  be  fed  by  the  parent. 

GuALL^.  —  Lores  with  feathers  similar  to  those  on  the  rest  of 
the  body ;  bill  contracted  at  base,  where  it  is  usually  smaller  than 
the  skull  ;  hind  toe  generally  elevated  ;  young  running  about  at 
birth,  and  able  to  feed  themselves. 

1  See  Introduction. 


K  i 


atcdly  found  the 


'^n 


l' 


:H 


Vi,.  I  1,     ?  *  t    IS, 


.U  I' 


398 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


SUB-ORDER  IIERODIONES. 

Bill  pron.rally  thick  at  ti.e  base  niKi  nuu^l,  loufiov  tl.an  ti.o  i.oad;  frontal  foatliors 
Av.tl,  a  n.un.lnl  outline;  lores,  and  KCMTally  the  .VKion  ro.nul  tl.o  ..yo  (sometimes 
most  of  the  liead),  naked  "  '"^'""t^s 

The  prin.ary  ehaiaeteristic  of  the  lhro,l!om's,  though  plivsiolo^ieal  rather  than 
xoo  n.^ual,  is  ol  the  hi.^^l.est  in.portanee;  the  yo,„,K  are  bor'n  weak  a.,d  im.H.rfeet 
and  are  reared  in  the  nest,  bein,:;-  le.l  direetly  by  the  ,,arent  until  able  to  take  I  .u-e  of 

themselves,  when  they  are  pnerally  aband.u.ed.     h,  the  dralhv.,  on  the „..„.v 

the  youn^^  nn,  about  freely,  direetly  a.'ter  bei,,^^  hal.hed,  and  are  capable  of  seeurin.: 
tood  lor  themselves  under  the  direetion  of  the  parent. 

The  ehief  zooloni,,,]  ,|>araeter  (not,  however,  entirely  without  exception)  is  to  he 
fo..nd  n.  the  b,ll,  which  is  fjenerally  very  lar,e,  nuuh  Ion.:;er  than  the  head 
h.ckened  at  the  base  so  as  to  he  nearly  or  quite  as  hmad  and  hij^h  as  the  skull'  the 
ores  are  ain.ost  always  naked,  or,  if  covere.l,  it  is  with  feathers  of  „  ditferent  kind 
iron,  those  on  ,  ,e  rest  of  the  body;  the  hind  toe  in  n.ost  genera  «s  len.^thened  and 
on  a  level  w„h  the  anterior,  so  as  to  be  capable  of  grasping,;  .son.etin.es,  howevek 
IS  elevated  and  (p.ite  slioi'f.  —  H.mhd.  ' 


F.VMiLY  ARDEID.i:.     Tin.;  IIkuon.s. 

Bill  conical,  a.Muninate,  compr.'ssed,  a..d  acute;  the  edges  usuallv  nicked  nt  the 
end;  the  t.-o..tal  feathers  generally  extending  beyond  the  nostrils;"  tarsi  scutell.te 
anteruuly:  the  middle  toe  connected  to  the  outer  bv  a  basal  wb;  daws  acute'  il,.. 
edge  of  the  middle  one  ser.'ated  or  pectinated  on  its  inner  edge. 

G.UiZr.TTA,    IJoNAI'AHTE. 

Gnrzetf.,   llnsA,-AnTE,  Consp ,   II.    (i,s,,5)    lis.      (Type  Ar,ka  garzctm,  L 
whether  ot  Kaup,  1821»y)  -^  '       ' 

Hill  slender;  outlines  nearly  st.Might  to  near  the  tip,  when  thev  are  about 
equally  convex;  .niddlc  toe  ,nore  than  half  the  tarsus;  ta.'si  broadiv  scufllate  ante 
r,o,-|y;  tdua  denuded  for  about  ouc-balf;  outer  toe  longest;  head  wi'th  a  full  o,vi„i,.,l 
crest  ot  feathers  having  the  webs  derou,pos..,l,  hair-like;  feathei-s  of  lower  par  of 
throat  sn..ilar;  n.iddle  of  ba.k  with  long  pb„,u,s  .vaching  to  the  tail,  recurving  ..t 
tip;  these  pinnies  and  the  crest  appa.-ent!y  |MTn,anent ;  lower  part  of  neck  helund 
liare  ot  feathers;  colors  pure-while  in  all  ages.  ' 

GAEZETTA   CANDIDISSIMA.  -  y?„H„y;„we. 
The  Snowy  Heron. 

Anfrn  cr,n<!l,lm!ma,  GmvUn.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17KK)  G33.  WiLs.  Am  Orn  VII 
(1M3)  120.  Xutt.  Man.,  II.  (im)  49.  And.  Oni.  liiog.,  III.  (Ife35)  317-  V 
(1830)  608.  I     14  ,    y. 

Garztlta  cmululissimn,  Hona|mrte.     Consp.  (1855),  119. 


II  - 


frontal  foatliors 
»'yi'  (wJinefiniL's 

oal  ratlicr  than 
;  and  im|H'itcit, 
'  to  talu'  cai-i!  (if 
111  tlu'  ('(iiitrarv^ 
alilc  ofsoeuriii^r 

I'i'ptidn)  is  to  1)0 
!  Il't!  lii'iul,  ami 
■<  tli(>  skull;  the 
»  (litleri'iit  khid 
lt'iitrilu.ii,.,|  and 
K-'s,  liowuvor,  it 


•  nii'kod  nt  the 
tarsi  scutfllato 
iws  aciitij;  the 


loy  arc  almiit 
■ciitcllatc  aiiti;- 
a  lull  (iccipiial 
lower  part  ot' 
',  reciirvinf;  at 
neck  bfhiiid, 


m.  Oni.,  Vir. 
835)  317 i   V. 


THE   SNOWY   HERON. 
Description. 


399 


Oicipiit  much  crested;  dorsal  i)lunie^  reaehlnir  fn  ,i         j    ,  , 
..-Lite;    bill   Idaek;    the  base  vellow;    1  ..'bk;  I     T    f ''''"'' •^^'°"  P"^"" 
u.lult.  ■  '      "     ^''"'^'   ""''  '""-'-■1  '"  young,  yellow  in 

I.('nf,'th,  twenty-four  inches;  wiip'  ten  nn,1  f,.,„„. 

-S«.-  and  ^iylayone-lnnuiredtl^i:  'U   "r^hr''^'';''::  '"""^'  '"^- 
dredlhs  inches.  '         '  "''"^'^'  ""^«^«  and  lilleeii  one-hun- 


nniS   bcautiriil  bird 


IS  a  vol 


y  I'arc  suminor  visitor 


J-    the  soutliern  New-Enolaiul  States.     I  1 
an  opportunity  for  observing-  its  liabits,  and 
de.scrij)tioii  by  Wilson:  — 


111 


lavo  never  liad 


will 


?ivo  the 


COIISI 


If 


I 


il*   . 


hi  '  'f^lf 


lali, 


400 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


rose  in  vast  numbers,  but  without  clamor,  alighting  on  the  tops  of 
the  trees  around,  and  watching  the  result  in  silent  anxiety.  Amou" 
them  were  numbers  of  the  Night  Heron,  and  two  or  three  rurjjle- 
headed  Herons.  Great  quantities  of  egg-shells  lay  scattered  under 
the  trees,  occasioned  by  the  depredations  of  the  Crows,  who  were 
continually  hovering  about  the  ])lace.  On  one  of  the  nests  I  found 
the  dead  body  of  the  bird  itself,  half  devoured  by  the  Hawks, 
Crows,  or  Gulls.  She  had  probably  perished  in  defence  of  her 
eggs. 

"  The  Snowy  Heron  is  seen  at  all  times  during  summer  amon"- 
the  salt  marshes,  watching  and  searching  for  food,  or  passing,  some- 
times in  flocks,  from  one  part  of  the  bay  to  the  other.  They  often 
make  excursions  up  the  rivers  and  inlets,  but  return  regularly  in 
the  evening  to  the  red  cedars  on  the  beach  to  roost." 

ARDEA,  LiNN^.us. 

Ardea,  Linn.f.us,  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1735).  (Typo  A.  cineren.) 
Bill  very  tliick;  ciilnu'ii  nearly  straight;  fjdiiys  asccniliiif,',  its  tip  more  rnnvpx 
tlian  tliat  of  ciiliiion;  niidclic  too  nuiro  than  lialf  tlic  tarsus;  tibia  hare  for  nearlv 
or  ([iiite  one-half;  claws  short,  niiuli  curved;  outer  toe  longest;  tarsus  hroadlv 
scuteliate  anteriorly;  oeeiput  with  a  few  elonj^ated  occipital  feathers;  Bcapulars 
elongate  lanceolate,  as  long  as  tlie  secondaries;  no  dorsal  plumes;  tail  of  twelve 
hroad  stiffened  feathers;  back  of  neck  well  feathered;  size  very  large;  colors  plum- 
beous, streakeil  beneath. 

AEDEA  HEEODIAS.  — /./Hrww. 
The  Great  Blue  Heron,  or  Crane. 

Ardea  Ihrodins,  Linna?us.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17C6)  2.37.  M'ils.  Am.  Cm.,  VIIL 
(1814)  28.    Nutt.  Man.,  H.  (1834)  42.    And.  Orn.  Hiog.,  III.  f  1835)  87;  V.  599. 

DKscHU-rioN. 

Lower  third  of  tibia  bare;  above  bluish-ash;  edges  of  wing  and  the  tiliia  rufous; 
neck  ciiiuamon-lir.iwn;  head  black,  witli  a  white  frontal  patch;  hudy  iMiiealh  Mack, 
broadly  streaked  on  the  belly  with  white;  <rissuui  white;  middle  line  of  throat 
■white,  streaked  with  black  and  rufous. 

^(/«/^  —  l^iI!  yellow,  dusky  at  the  base  and  greenish  above;  the  foreliead  and 
central  part  of  the  crown  are  white,  emircled  laterally  and  behind  by  black,  of 
which  color  is  the  occipital  crest  and  its  two  elongated  feathers;  the  neck  is  of  a 
light  smoky  cinnaTnori-l)rown,  with  perhaps  a  tinge  of  purple;  the  chin  and  throat 
■whitish;  the  feathers  along  the  central  line  of  the  throat  to  the  breast  white,  streaked 
with  black,  and  also  with  reddish-brown,  e.\cept  on  the  elongated  leathers  of  the 


sli 


E  '  ?'■<)! 


u  m 


THE   GllKAT   HLUK    IIICUON. 


401 


breast;  tl...  I,o,ly  mny  ho  .IcRrril,..,!  ,,s  l,l„i«l,-a«|,  a!.„v,.  „„  1        ,.  '    • . 

wl.i,o  cn..s,„„,  a,,  sooty   black,   „u,..h   ^",    .        o    ",     T   ,'m     .!'"   '"■"^' '"  "'« 
the  til^iu  and  tho  e<„o  o,'  ,ho  win,  a,,  n..,  J   ',;;!'^^,   ':,;''. '7  "'•''  "'"'"' 

P'""''" ■*  n.t..nially  until  tli,.  innnniost  ., i,...;  ""-  '''"'k,  hcroniuiK  more 

don.a.Hti,.so,-,.u.s..a,Mnar,i.atl     "Ivriw    H  i:  7"  ,'"">'' '"^"  '""  '-X^   >1,« 

Joral  aiul  (nhital  spaces  liKht-urec.n-  i.-ix  ,,  li    "",''"'  ''"^l'y-rcc„  ah„v,.; 
tiWo-tarsal  Joint;  .law.  hlm'k  '  "   """'   "■"'  "''^•'"■•■"-'  •-'-•  "'-vc  ,1,,: 

'^-"••-'  ""^  "-..ast  i.  „.ayish.  ;:;:;l:i  s:  r  ri;::.;:,';: ^":"  "*""'-' 

any  ,,nn.-hiack  patches;   tU,  ,,ack  is  with.,,,,  the      o,   7  :"'.'"*  ^^"'""" 

.till  younger  specimens,  the  coverts  are  all   n       .i:'.    r"''";  '?"'""'   '" 
ligl-tcr  at  the  tip;  the  rnlons  of  the  tihia  is  n,;!!!!  gh'.  '  """"   ''^""•""•^ 

.yr^CinS::^^^^^^^^  ..,.. 

inches.  "^'-  '""'   ""y  "nc'-hunrlicdtlis 

Ti,i>:  ll,c  Inrgest  of  our  Novv.J.:„.to,„l  If,,,.„„«,  is  ,„.cnv 

.vsulcnt;  and,  altl.ougl,  not  vory  al„„„ln„t  in  any  L  io 
.» ..f  c,m,-.so  ,no,o  often  found  in  iooali, i,..,  uoar  Ia4  bodi   ';f 
»ato,-  l,an  ols.nvl,,.,..     It  „,,,>,,»  ,■,,„,  ,„„  Son.i:  abo    '  l^o 
..oond  woolc  ,u  Apnl,  »on„.tin,os  a  little  oarlio,-.     „„,    ° 
the  day,  ,t  se,.n,»  to  ,„.,,;,,.  „,„  „„,i„„|„^  „,.  j,^^  » 

.ts  fctroat,  as  ,(  ,s  usually  s„,n,  in  tbo  u.oadovvs  onlv  at  12 

.no-„,gaMdu,tbolaltcn-partof,la,alta.noou/lt        f 
.V  1  0  »..lo  o.  a  d,.,d,  0,.  pond,  is  obsonod  patiently  watehin!; 

'"  ""  l"">';     "  ';'■'-""»  "'■■' S  motionless  until  a  lis],  Z 

•o^lavsents  ,,sdUvl„n.  wi,,,  au  nue„.i„.  stroke  vvith  it, 
beak   as, puck  as  l,.|,tn,njr.  it  seizes,  heats  to  pioees   aud 

»wallo„sd      Tlns,a.ti«„,U.n,.peu,ed;,ud,as'ti:n,:u 
'^"■•es    Ins  ,l,el  WMI,   u,eadov>-u,iee,  snakes,  and  i„s,.ets,  it 
certandy  does  not  lead   ,!,„  life  „,■  ,„,„„,,  „,„,  „,,,„j 
"'-.v  »"le.-s  aseribe  to  it.     in  faet,  it  is  always  p,„u,p 

;:;,.5'::>r';:b;r "^ ^- --'«-' asapabLbie 

About  tl,e  10th  or  Aray,this  speeies  eonuneuces  huildi 

as  «dh  the  other  Jleron.,,  it  breeds  iu  eon.munities,  ami 
several  uests  «,ay  bo  found  in  an  area  of  a  lew  rod».    These 


'    ^'Wl 


402 


OUMTIIOLOUY    AND    OOLOCY. 


arc  placed  in  liijih  forks  of  trees,  generally  in  retired,  almost 
iinpassahle  swamps.  I  once  visited  a  heronry  of  this  species 
in  Erroll,  N.JI.  It  was  in  a  deep  swamp,  which  was  inter- 
sected by  a  small  branch  of  the  Androscoggin  lliver.  I 
think  that  I  never  [)enctrated  a  more  villanous  tract:  every 
few  rods  a  (piagmire  would  present  itself,  whicli,  altliougli 
familiar  to  the  persons  who  accompanied  mo,  was  generally 
unrocognizaltle  by  me,  from  any  patches  of  green  turf;  and 
it  was  only  by  wading  through  mud  and  wat(!r,  s()m(!tinies 
lip  to  my  waist,  or  by  leaping  from  one  fallen  tree  to  another, 
through  l)riers  and  brushwood,  that  I  at  last  succeeded  in 
arriving  beneath  the  trees  in  which  the  nests  wore  built. 
These  were  all  dead  hcndocks,  white  and  smooth,  without  a 
branch  for  certainly  forty  feet,  and  uncliml)ablo.  Wo  coidd 
see  that  the  nests  were  nearly  flat,  and  were  constru(!ted  of 
twigs  of  diniM'cnt  sizes,  put  tog(!th(!r  in  a  loose  and  slovenly 
manner.  This  was  about  the  ^oth  of  June  :  the  young  Avero, 
of  course,  then  about  two-thirds  grown  ;  and,  as  I  had  heard 
that  they  were  excellent  eating,  I  emptied  both  the  barrels 
of  my  gun  into  one  of  the  nests,  when  down  tuml)l(;d  (wo 
"squab  Herons,"  as  they  are  called.  We  had  them  broiled 
for  su|)per:  they  tasted  somt^lhing  like  duck,  l»ut  had  a 
strong  llavor  that  was  not  pleasant.  "  1  don't  hanker  after 
any  more,"  as  one  of  our  company  said  after  supper.  The 
old  birds,  at  the  report  of  my  gun,  began  flying  over  our 
lieads,  littering  their  hoarse  k<ink»  and  guttural  ciies.  They 
were  careful  to  keep  out  of  gunshot ;  and,  after  (lying  back 
and  forth  a  W'av  minutes,  they  dis!i|)pear(Ml,  and  all  was  still. 
The  eggs  of  this  species  are  laid  al)out  the  I'jth  or  liOth  of 
May:  they  are  usually  three  or  four  in  numl)er,  and  their 
form  is  ovoidal.  They  are  of  a  light  bluish-green  color,  and 
average  in  dimensions  about  2.G2  by  1.1')  inch.  Ihit  one 
brood  is  reared  in  the  season. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  suspicious  of  our  birds,  and 
the  most  difficult  to  be  approached.  It  is  constantly  on  the 
lookout  for  danger ;  and  its  long  neck,  keen  eyes,  and  deli- 


THK    L[.;AST    lilTTKriN. 

onto  organs  of  lioaring,  onuhl,,  it  („  ,|i,|,od;  the 


u  Imntor  l.,ng  holbro  he  cau  gel.  wilhin  gunshot 
.  A  .ont  the  middle  of  October,  it  leaver  New'jin.. 
snmll  detached  groups,  Ibr  the  Sontli. 


408 

approach  of 


land,  in 


/.-; 


AHDICTTA,  Chay. 

Hciitclljifc  anicridrly.  "'"*^'*  '""K-  "iiil<';   tarsi  l.roudly 

'I'/lil   of  ((Ml   ((■iitlicr.s;    neck   slidrl  ■    In,,!..  ■„..  i 

i , ,.,„ „     ,„   1,L.  ;,1  ■    , '■"■"l"™"!^     I"'"!    ..„.„„l,;    ,|„ 

' "^ ' « ""-  """.:'=:rt:;:;i::;;-:,i^^^  - 

ARDETTA  EXILIS.- a nnj. 
The  Least  Bittern. 
Anfcn  fj!l!i,  (Unt-Vin.     Svst.  Nat     I    mtkhi.mb      «'i      . 
37.     A...I.  (.,.„.  ,iio«.,  ,„.  o«;,„  ;;?  v.^^/S.    '' "•  ^"'^  ''"'■'  ^'"'  ^^^^*> 
yl/v/.v,  (,„v/.'»/„)  ,.,,7,-s,  NiKtall.     Man.,  II.  ( iH,i4)  60. 
Anktta  ixili.i^  iiruy.     (Jen.  (I><'t2). 

iJKsrmPTioN. 

Hcail  aliovc  and  flic  lia.k  dark  l'Io<«iv  m.,,,..,.   „.,  .     „ 

y..ll,.w  s..ap.ilar  strip,..     K.i.ia,,.  ,vi„i   ,„„  ^     ;  7C^"ZT'V  "  T'r'' 
pur,,lisli-di..sli,iit;   iris  yi.llow.  '"''    "■'''''■■"'■"l   ''^ 

I-MKlh,  thirt...,,  i,i;.|i..s;   winK,  four  and  soventy-fivo  oiu-imndredthv   ,ars„. 
...K.  i.d  sixty  one..i,iiidr..d.,.s,    „i„,  a.„.v,,  ...lo  and  seven.y-.ivo 'o:t|;:;„S: 

This,  the  smallest  of  our  Ardrida),  is  a  rare  summer 
mhalMtant  of   New  JVland.      J t  is  only  seen  in  pairs  or 
sohtary  md.v.duals,  and,  nnlik.,  mo.st  of  onr  l.irds  in  this 
lannly,  s.-ems   persistently  solitary  iu   its   hahits       1   have 
never  m.;t  with  a.i  individual  aliv..,  and  will  give  a  short 
.extract  Iron,  the  deseripti..n  l.y  Amlul.on  of  its  hahits      l/r 
says,  "Although   the   Least    Mittern    is   not    nnfre.n.entlv 
started   m  salt   marshes,  it  gives  a  decided  preference  fo 
the  borders  of  ponds,  lakes,  or  bayous  of  fresh  water-  and 
It  IS  in  secluded  situations  of  this  kind  that  it  nsually  Ibrms 
Its  nest.     This  is  sometimes  placed  on  the  giound,  amid  the 


f 

1 

t 

h 

S 

>!  i 


Ji.il  I 


404 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOCJV. 


rankest  grasses,  but  more  frequently  it  is  attaclunl  to  tiie 
stems  several  inches  above  it.  It  is  Hat,  and  composed  of 
dried  or  rotten  weeds.  In  two  instances,  I  found  tlie  nests 
of  the  Least  Bittern  about  three  feet  above  the  ground,  in  a 
thick  cluster  of  smilax  and  other  briery  plants.  In  tiie 
first,  two  nests  were  placed  in  the  same  bush,  within  a  few 
yards  of  each  other,  in  the  other  instance,  there  was  oidy 
one  nest  of  this  bird,  but  sevt^ral  of  the  Boat-tailed  Grakle, 
and  one  of  the  Green  Heron,  the  occupants  of  all  of  whicli 
scorned  to  be  on  friendly  terms.  When  startled  from  tlw; 
nest,  the  old  birds  emit  a  few  notes  reseinl)ling  the  syllable 
qu(7,  alight  a  few  yards  off,  and  watch  all  your  movements. 
If  you  go  towards  them,  you  may  sometimes  take  the  female 
with  the  hand,  but  rarely  the  male,  who  generally  flies  off, 
or  makes  his  way  through  the  woods. 

"  The  food  of  this  bird  consists  of  snails,  slugs,  tadpoles 
or  young  frogs,  and  water  lizards.  In  several  instances, 
however,  1  have  found  small  shrews  aiul  (ield-mice  in  their 
stomach.  Although  more  nocturnal  than  diuruid,  it  moves 
a  good  deal  al)out  by  day  in  search  of  I'ood.  The  liight  of 
this  bird  is  iipparontly  weak  by  day;  for  then  it  seldom  re- 
moves to  a  greater  distance  llian  a  hundred  yards  at  a  time, 
and  this,  too,  only  when  frightened  in  a  moderate  degree, 
for,  if  much  alarmiHl,  it  falls  again  among  the  grass,  in  the 
manner  of  the  Rail :  Ijut  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening  and 
morning.  I  have  seen  it  i)assing  steadily  along,  at  the  height 
of  fd'ty  yards  or  moi'e,  with  the  neck  retracted,  ami  the  legs 
stretched  out  behind  in  the  manner  of  the  larger  Herons." 

The  eggs  of  this  species  are  usually  four  in  nunilier: 
they  are  nrai'ly  oval  in  form,  and  are  of  the  size,  and  almost 
exactly  the  form,  of  eggs  of  the  Yellow-billed  Cuckoo,  ex- 
cept with  regard  to  color;  the  ])resent  species  I)eing  con- 
siderably jialer.  It  has  l>een  found  to  breed  in  all  the 
New-England  States,  l)ut  seems  to  be  more  of  a  southern 
species,  and  it  is  not  abundant  anywhere  north  of  the 
southern  portions  of  the  Middle  ir^tates. 


THE  BITTKltN. 


405 


'J'.iG. 


IIOTAUIUJS,  STKn.KNs. 

notnurm,  Stkpiikns,  Shaw's  (!,.m    7,    i     v, 
'"'-.  I^-)  "•  ''""'••  -^'-  < '«""  6«2.     (Typo  Anka  »ul. 

Hill  ...odorato,  scnrcoly  lonffor  (I,,,,,  th,.  i,,,„, .  ,  .„  „.,,,. 
''^'•"■"'"'"'    '"-••■^i  v.ry  .h„r(,  h-ss  ,l,a„  ,h.,  ,     i;il  '  *'''''''-^' '■''•'^■'■''' K-mvs 

l"U'n.l..,.,„„..|,l„nK,.,;  .■Iawsallv..n.         '         "  '"V      ■";"''^'  ■^'"""""' '  '"-r 

«i'."l"r.  '  "'  ^'"^''  '''"'""«-  '-^-«,  "l.a.,u..,  ......ak.I,  ««,. 

BOTAUEUS   LENTIGIN0SUS.-.S7,y,/..„, 
The  Bittern ;  Stako-driver. 

AnUa  ,„:uor,  Wil.son.     Am.,  (.rn,  VIII.        H,  a        V  T" 

.  .  viu.(lM4)du.    Aua.Or«.  l{ioK,,iv.(is3sj 

„  .   ,  HKNCIillTION. 

Ilr„wni.sh-y,.ll„w.  finely  .n..(|I,.,|  ,„„1  varir.l  wilh  .l,.rV  1 

and  .sixty  .,n,.-h..mlr.(Ithsi,K.|a..s:   l.ill   almv..   fu-         .      "'""' '■'"^■'•"  =  laiMis.  ih.vo 
//"/^  — J'ulin-  .■(.ntiiu.iit  (,f  V„ri|,  Anicn.a. 
IV'liiiins  iioiH^  of  (iiip    ir<.i.,...,, 

::";::::r:;;;/;:;:::r^r:;:^!;;:r'-'^--^ 

;;;:;:";■;  7  '■•"'""-■•■' - « '- ''.-  -ill    ,; .:  ; 

"'''""".'"'"";. """"!"■ '"'■•''"«  or  (),,„i„M-.    Us,.,., 

"  '"■ '"  '"  '•"l"lmiMili,.»,  „,„„-li,„™  as  ,„a„v  as  a    l' 

I'l-"''''l""  l"»-l.i,shc»   „i-llii,.|-  f„c,.     r  ""-  "'*!»  are 

'  -^'^  '""';""'  "■'"•'■"  II"-  i.i..is  !„■ I  i„  „„,„ , I  ,^ 


A        .''.J 


1     !' 


40G 


ORNITIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


ponotrablo  swamps,  tlicso  birds  Imvo  soveral  lieronrioa,  wlilcli 
thoy  liavo  inluibited  I'or  years.  WIumi  their  haunts  an» 
ai)proa(;hod,  tho  birds  riso  with  a  f^nittural  note,  like  tho 
synal»h!  (ji«)fc,  and  ali^dit  in  sonio  tall  troo,  from  wliich  tlu-y 
silently  watch  the  intruder. 

Tho  e<:i^s  are  usually  li)ur  iu  uuuil)er.  Their  form  is 
generally  uvoiilal,  and  their  color  a  rich  dnib,  with  sonus 
timos  an  olive  tinge.  1  know  ol'  no  species  that  exhibits  so 
littlo  variation  iu  tho  size  of  its  eggs  as  this;  for  in  a  largo 
number  of  specimens  in  my  eolhiction  from  hall'  a  dozc-u 
ditlerent  States,  east  and  west,  the  only  vnrit^ty  of  dimen- 
sions is  I'rom  1.1)2  by  l.r)0  inch  to  l.SH  by  1.4«  inch. 

In  the  mating  season,  and  during  the  lirst  part  of  tho 
period  of  incubation,  the  male  has  a  peculiar  love-note,  that 
almost  exactly  resembles  the  stroke  of  a  mallt^t  on  a  slake; ; 
something  like  the  syllaltlcs  'ahnnk-a-lunk-eliank,  (jKunk- 
vhink-a-lunk-i'hink.  1  have  often,  when  in  tin;  fon^sts  of 
Northern  Elaine,  been  deceived  by  this  note  into  biiliiiving 
that  some  woodman  or  settler  was  in  my  neigiil)orhood, 
and  discovered  my  mistake;  oidy  after  toiling  through  swamp 
and  morass  for  perhaps  half  a  mih;.  Jbit  one  brood  is 
reared  iu  the  season  by  this  bird  in  New  Kngland  ;  and,  Ity 
tho  first  week  iu  August,  tho  young  are  aide  to  shiil  for 
themselves. 

iJL'T<)I!ll)i:S,   Hi.vm. 

BiiUiriihs,  IJi-vni  (1849),  Ildrsf.  ('I'ypi!  Anka  Jamnicit.) 
\\\\\  unite,  ratlior  lini^ier  tliim  tin;  lifiid,  gently  curved  from  tlii^  Imso  al>ovi>; 
gonv.M  !<li;;lilly  asi'i'iidiii;,';  li';;s  very  sliurt ;  tarsi  sniri'cly  l(in;,'ir  than  tlic  iiiidilli! 
toe;'  broadlv  scuti'llat.'  aiitfridHy ;  lateral  toes  nearly  ecjiial;  head  with  elun);aled 
I'ealliers  above  and  liehilid;  thesu  are  well  delined,  laiieeolate,  as  are  the  inter- 
se:ii>nlars  and  seapnlars;  the  latter  not.  exeeedhij;  the  tertials;  neek  short;  bare 
behind  interiorly;  tilmi  leathered  nearly  thronj;liout;  tail  of  twelve  feathers. 

BUTORIDES  VIRESCENS.  — /.'<.Hiv"(i(c. 

The  Green  Heron;    Fly-up-the-Creek. 

Ar(k(i  f(V(sc()is,  I,inna>ns.     Syst.  Nat.,   I.   (1"C(J)  238.     Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VII. 
(1813)97.    And.  Orn   Hi(«.,  IV.  (IHiih)  274. 

Arihn  Ihdtdiirim)  rin-icenn.     Nutt.,  II.  (1^34)  03. 
Butuvidvt  virt'sceiis,  Honaparte.    Consp.  Av.,  II.  (1855)  128. 


■■,    « 


THE  GIIKKN    IIKUON. 


Till!  Orci'n  Hitlcrii  Ih  ciKlii 


|)KS( 


iiii-ri(i\. 


I)ill  lil-ick,  lij;litcr  bi'lmv,  iiinl  v. 11 


"■'•"  '"'■'"•«  liiiW.  iiiwl  twenty 


lliroat,  .vcllowiMli-wliitc;    nn  k  dark  v 


ti'W  lit  till'  liUHi.;   el 


mi\.ciiiH.r,.(|;   liucii 


407 


■ilvu    illclll'N    ill  ,.xt«lltj 

town  thu 


ill,  mill  imrrdw  Hliviik  d 


t..l»'iii;K,  pni.itr.l  liMtluT.,  „r  a  |,.,„ry  «,■,.,.„,  nlial.,,!  with  wl.il 
Kriiiiiiil;   III.'  IiiikI  |,i,it  ,,f  ||„,  ,^^.,.^^  j^  ,|,,,, 


•  ovi.rt'd  with  v.Tv  I 


'"(■', 


iiiivi'iiiciitiv  (Iniw 


tliriial  and  hides  itt'  tl 


II  in  over  llic  breaHt,  hut  Im 


iUiteorplinnuKe,  Hint  it  i 


•',  <•"  a  ilark-(,'ieei 


Kiven,  tipped  and  hordiTed  will 


le   lleek    that   eliehise   it    hej 


iMiVeicd  with   the   hm^r  f,,,„| 


may  he  th.'  n: 


liers  of  Ihi 


\\  yelldwish  white 


with  Kleeil,  the  skill   c.f  thi'se  llliek    and    IIM.vahle-    I 


and 


ami  lad  dark  «! 


I't't  yellow,  t 


liilly  UHhy-hiown; 


loKxy 
ili^ed  helore 
lies  hrif;ht- 


n-K 


I'll. 


crc'Hti'd  head  very  dark  j;lo>-8v 


olwerved  in  nuineroiis  instii 


Kri'i'ii      The.  I'i'Miali 


as  I  hav.'  particularly 


neither  of  Ihein  re<eive  thi 

WlJ.SON. 


l»ii''''S  ililleiM    in    iioihi,,^,,  „,   ,„  ,,„|„^^   ,.^,^1^1  I, 


iiiiK  leathers  on  the  haek  di 


>e   nialu; 


iiiK  the  tirst  .season."  — 


Am.  Oni.,  VII. 


Till!  itl.ovt!  (loscriptioii  of  (his  hciinUful  l.ifd 

n<l  iiocunite,  that  I  Oiinnot  do  UrUvi-  tl 


icnsivo  a 


RiMit  it  in  tlii.s  vohiiiK';  and  U 


IS  so  (!om]»i'o- 

lllll     (O     |»f(>. 


by  th(j  sanu!  autiior,  is  so  iiitiipust 


Hi  account  of  lliis  l.ipd's  hid)iff 


unable  to  add  to  it  any  tl 


i'"^'  iiiid  full,  tlial,.  I 


XMIlg 


nii,^' of  vahic,  I  oive  it  as  l.ol.^w:  — 


"'i'lic  (Ji'crti  IJitlcrii  iiiiikcs  its  (ifst 


cai'Iy   ill   April,   soon   after   tlic   niiirslics   tit 


«|l|H'llf!UlC(!   ill    IV'IIII.SVI 


viuim 


'I'l 


licrc,  lim()ll;ir  tho  .Htil-ril!illt,  .lltcl 


■••    ••<>lll|ilctclv    lliiiwcd. 


uiid  Jiinidst  tlic  lioirs  mid 


's  Willi  wlii.^h  ilicvan.  iiit..r,s..ct(.d 
111-  I 


and  dcxti'fily.     Ffoifs  and  .siii.dl  fish  uro  I 


(|iiaj;iiiir('.s  hr  Inmls  uii|,  j^rn.at  ciiiini 


IIL' 


caiitiiiii  am 


I  fa.'il 


ily  of 


iw  principal  fram..,  \vl,„s,. 


t'sfapi!  rc(jiiin!  nice  addi 


'»'s,s  and   r; 


,,     ,       ,..,  ,      ,     ,  -  •  'apKlitv  of 

••utack.  W  li.-n  „„  tho  l.M.kotit  for  small  lisli,  ],„  stands  in  tlir  w'.fr 
l.yllic  sidr  .,f  thr  .li|,.li.  .silent,  and  nioti.)nI,..ss  as  a  slatnt..-  his 
neck  drawn  in  over  his  hivasi,  rcidy  for  .action.  The  instuit  a  fry 
or  minnow  comes  within  tlw  r.inK,.  „f  his  hill,  l.y  a  stroke  .mi.'k 
and  sure  as  that  of  the  rattlesnake,  h,.  seizes  his  pn-y,  and  swallows 
It  Ml  an  instant,  lie  searches  for  small  cnd.s.  and  for  the  variuns 
wonm  and  l.irva'.  particularly  tlios,>  of  the  dra-on-fly,  which  h.rk 
i"  <!'<'  I'uid,  with  eipial  ailroitness.  15,„  ,|,„  <,„d,;rin.r  ..C  fn,.. 
iv.piires  much  nicer  mana.iretnent.  'ri„.se  wary  reptiles  .shrink  into 
>lu-  rmre  on  the  h,xst,  alarm,  tmd  do  not  raise  up  their  heads  a-,iin 
to  the  surface  without  the  most  cautious  (Mrcumspecti(m.  'J'he  Bit- 
tern, lixin-  his  penetratin-  eye  „„  the  spot  where  tliev  disappeared 
approaches  with  slow,  stealin.i;  step,  laying  his  feet  so  gently  and 
Ml.M.tly  on  the  ground  as  not  to  he  heard  or  felt ;  and,  wl'ien  arrived 
within  reach,  stands  fixed,  and  bending  forwards,  until  the  lirst 


til 
i 


1 1  i  iisriMt«t.',li 


r' 


1 '  i 


408 


OUNITIIOLOCJY    AND   OOL()(JV. 


plimpso  of  tho  frof^'w  lifiul  niiikfs  iN  appcuniiire,  \vli«>ii,  with  i\ 
Hirokc  iiistimtiincoiis  an  lijflitniiiir.  In-  Hcizcs  it  in  liis  hiij,  heats  it,  to 
tlcatli.  and  ti-asis  on  it  at  his  icisnrr. 

"  Wlioii  ahirined,  tho  (Jm'ii  Kiitcin  risos  with  a  liojiow.  ;,Mittural 
Bcn'aiii;  <lof.s  not  (ly  tar,  l)nt  UHiially  ali<,'hls  on  Honic  old  Mtnnip, 
tree,  or  fence  adjoinin-r,  and  looks  aliont  witii  I'Xteinh'd  neck; 
thmiuh.  HonietinicM,  iliis  i.s  drawn  in  so  tliat  liis  head  seems  to  rest 

on  liis  l)reasf.     Am  he  wulks  alon;i;  tlie  t'ei or  stands  irazin^r  at 

yon  with  onlstretciied  neck,  he  lias  the  (reipn^nt  lialiit  of  jettinj;  tin; 
tjiil.      He    sometimes    Hies    lH;,di.    with    doubled    neck,    and    h.jrs 
extended  hehin<l,  Happing'  tiie   wiiiys  smartly,  and   liaveijiiiir  ^viHi 
{Treat   expedition.     He   is   the    least  shy  „f  .,11   onr   ileron^,   and 
perhaps  the  most  numerous  and  <;eiM'ralIy  dispersed  ;  lu^iiiy  tonml  tin- 
in   the  interior,  as  well  as  alon^,'  onr  salt   marshes,  and  everywiiero 
aliout  the  nuiddy  shores  of  onr  mill-ponds,  creeks,  and  Iari;e"  rivers. 
"The  (Jreen   IJittern  hei,dns  to  hnild  ahoiit  the  I'Oih  of  April : 
sometimes  in  sin;^de  pairs,  in  swampy  woods  ;  often  in  companies ; 
and  not  nnfreipn  iidy  in  a  kind  of  association  with  the  (^na-hirds, 
or  Ni«,dit  Herons.     '!"he  n*<t  is  lixed  amon-r  the  hrimches  of  tji,. 
trees;  is  constrncted  wholly  of  small  sticks,  lined  with  liner  twi-rs; 
and  is  of  considerahle  size,  tlion;ih  loosely  put  to^^ether.     'I'he  feniale 
hiys  four  e;.ri;s,  of  the  common  ohioiii;  form,  and  of  a  pale  liuht-lihie 
color.     The  yonnj^  do  not  leave  the  nest  nntil  al.le  t,,  ||y  ;  mul.  f„r 
the  first  season  at  least,  are  (h'slitnte  of  the  lon;r-pointed   plnmiim! 
on   the  hack:   the  lower  parts   are  also   liiihter,  and   the  white  on 
tlu!   throat   hroader.      Dnrinir   the  whcde  siinnner,  and  nntil  late  in 
antnnm.  tlies(!   hirds  are    seen    in   onr  nieailows  and   marshes,  hut 
never  I'cmain  dnriii;,'  winter  in  any  jiart  of  the  rnited  States." 

A   h\v<^(^   luiiuber   of   this   hird's   onus,   Jviiiu'  lid'oiv  me 
cxliiltit  ii  variation  of  only  iVoiii  l..")(i  by  1,20  incli  to  1.4!) 
by  l.lo  inch   in  (Jinicnsjons.      jJiif  one  brood  is  ivarcd  in 
tho   suason  ;    iind,  l,y  the   iKMh  of  Sopkiiuhor,  tho  old  and 
yoimjf  loavo  Now  Knnlaiid   for  tin;  South. 

,  NV<T1.VIM»I:A,  Swai.nson. 

Nyctiarden,  Swainso.n,  Class.  Hirds,  II.  (ls;t7)  354.     (Tyiio  Ardm  unctkonui 
Linn.)  ' 

NyctkorM,  Sn.i-nii.Ns,  Sliuw'.s  (icn.  Zud.,  XI.  ( LSlii)  rm.     Siuiic  tyi.c. 


t!  ii«' 


m 


THE  NKHIT   MKftON. 


400 


Hill  very  .«.„.(  i..„lM,..„,.urv,.,|(V„„,|,„,.,.  „,    , 

!""' " •"' - ^ '  X ' : '! ,  rt '"'" •" '"" " " 

I''"" •  ""•'■" 'l"'h..rH,r,.||..,|,„,„,lH.r.        'Z'  ' '"I"'""  "  I""*,',  Mr»i«|.,  „,„i,„.,, 

.  '••"•  ^'«"« "- «i,i. ,. ,..^   ;.:  i::"';  •: r^y  "•""- i-i. 

;^"""7"'^ "- ....■  lo.:; ,;:;;;  ""'"";'■"•  ■''"^•''  "■  "■'■ ^ 

•"■ '7 ; '  "-K-iai  .a.:,;  :,';;;;:'-•■ ' v......  .„.,.„:;: 

"^" '" ''"'-' '--' -  i.« ';:::i:;z;:::  :;::;;;•:,  :;;■"- 

NYCTIARDEA   OABDENI.  - //„/,,,. 

The  NiKht  Horon ;  Qua-bird. 
Anil II  iii/illioriij'   Wil«,.ii       \. 

Ar./,n  i/„,taun,.)  ,/W.,  X,.„„||.     Man.,  fl.  ,  IK'M)  ,4. 

Ill.M    llll'IIUN. 

Head  alx.v..  an.l  „.i.|,||,.  „(•  |„„.|,  , ,  ,,„ 

Hill  v.n  thirk  at  th..  ij,  ,„„|  ,  •  '"'"'  ""«■"'■  "ill.  lil.ir. 

'«'"" ■'-'.•.-..'.:. i:;;:;:::;:;s,;;  7  V      <^'" y 

— '"'■'"'Ivurv,.,!;  mil  nhort,  oftw.        ,,      ,     ';     ''""":  '""^"■^"   ''"»-  ••^-nall, 
ll.'H  w I,..   ...ripilal   H.,.,|„.,,     ,  '  '"""•'■  ^""  •'•'"I"''-. 

llHMi|,|Hr|,ai't  cfthclira,!    I„,.|„  f       .1  "■'  ""i|".n,.<|. 

""■ -".•..;..•....,< v:!;;;;;,:;;^:;',:;::;'-'^''' """"-'-•' 

"'■;■  -l.v-hlu..;   tl,..  „n,|,.r  ,„.,,,,„„.  ,;„,.,„, ';,;  ;■'-«'-'■" '."- «in«s  „„,,  tail 

'-'-  ""«"i"^'  -"■•ly  -I-  "I...I,. ,. ,:;;,,;    r  '.  ""•  r^  '"'""■' "" '"••■  -■" 

'I-  "is  .v,!;  ,1,..  ,;.,.,  ,,.||..w;  tl,..  ,.l,,ws  I.,..,,';,.  '''"'■'^'  ""■  '"■•"'  -^l-"  Kn...„, 

l.i'iijilh,  aliiiiil  tivcijtv-tivf  i,ir|| 
-s,  ,l„ve  an,|   tith.....  u.r-Uun,W,.ii[:J"!n; 'Zj''  h"'  "'' '"""''"'"'-;  <"r. 

//„/.  ^  I'..:.     1  .•-    . 


llicllcs 

//"*.  — I 'llitlMJ  Slatis  j;,.,„,,-,.,||v 


o-;"^::i::;r::!;::i-:;;;;>;;'-;;--- ... 


i 


410 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


sections  quite  abundant  in  the  interior  ;  as,  for  instance,  Dr. 
Wood  says,  "  I  know  of  a  swamp  some  fourteen  miles  from 
here  (East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn.)  where  thousands  breed."  — 
"  I  have  counted  eight  nests  on  one  maple-tree,"  &c.     This 
species  is  most  commonly  found  during  the  daytime  pcrch- 
in.r  in  higli  trees  in  swamps  and  thick  woods,  and  seems  to 
feed  almost  entirely  by  night.    As  soon  as  it  begins  to  grow 
dark,  it  begins  its  flight ;  and  if  svc  stand  in  a  large  meadow, 
or  by  a  pond  or  other  sheet  of  water,  we  may  sometimes 
hear  the  notes  of  several,  as  they  are  engaged  in  their 
search  for  prey.     The  call  of  this  bird  resembles  the  sylla- 
ble quack,  which  gives  the  bird  the  name  of  Squawk  in 
many  localities.    The  nest  of  this  species  is  placed  in  a  fork 
of  a  tree  in  a  swamp :  it  is  constructed  of  coarse  twigs  and 
leaves,  and  is  very  loosely  put  together.    As  above  remarked, 
several  of  these  structures  may  be  found  on  one  tree ;  and, 
after  the  young  are  hatched,  their  noise,  as  they  scream  for 
food,  is  almost  deafening.     I  once  visited  a  heronry  of  this 
species  in  Dcdliam,  Mass.     As  many  as  a  hundred  pairs 
were  breeding  in  the  area  of  an  acre;  and,  as  Wilson  truly 
says,  "  The  noise  of  the  old  and  young  would  almost  induce 
one  'to  suppose  that  two  or  three  hundred  Indians  were 
choking  or  throttling  each  other." 

Another  larger  heronry  that  I  visited  last   season   in 
company  with  my  friends,  F.  G.  Sanborn  and  11.  A.  Purd.e, 
occupied  an  area   of  several   acres.     The   locality  was   a 
swamp,  in  which  were  growing  cedar-trees.     These  were 
rarely  over  thirty  feet  in  height;  but  their  dense  and  twm- 
in<r  branches  were  occupied  often  by  the  nests  of  two  or 
three  pairs  in  a  single  tree.    The  reader  may  judge  as  to  the 
multitude  of  parent-birds  that  were  ilying  in  wild  confusion 
over  our  heads,  and  may  fancy  the  elTect  of  all  their  guttural 
cries.     We  ascended  to  a  numV)er  of  the  nests,  and  found 
them  occupied  by  eggs,  both  freshly  laid  and  others,  far 
advanced  in  incubation,  and  chicks  from  one  day  old  to 
some  half  grown.     As  the  work  of  ascending  to  the  filthy 


THE  NIGHT   HERON. 


411 


t  season  in 
I.  A.  Purdio, 
nility  was  a 

These  were 
se  and  twin- 
ts  of  two  or 
dgo  as  to  tlio 
ild  contusion 
:lieir  guttural 
:s,  and  found 
d  others,  fur 
c  day  old  to 

to  tiic  filthy 


nests  was  not  of  the  pleasantest,  we  limited  our  iuvesti^a- 
tio:.  to  the  securing  of  a  fo.  of  the  most  recentl/ ufd 


eggs. 


As  my  though  «  recall  the  occurrences  of  that  day,  num- 
bers of  other  pleasant  excursions  and  can^paigns    ha    I 
utve  e,,oycd  with  the  gentlemen  ahove  named  come  h  cl 
to  me  ;  and  I  hope  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we  tlu^l 
w.th  gun  on  shoulder  and  knapsack  on  our  backs,  may  take' 
another  good  long  tm7np  together.  ^ 

The  eggs  of  the  Night  Heron  are  laid  about  the  20th  of 
May.  Ihey  are  usually  four  in  nxunbor,  and  their  general 
form  IS  an  elongated  ovoidal.  lu  a  great  number  of  speci- 
mens, the  color  IS  generally  bluish-green,  sometimes  a  lio.ht 
pea-green  or  greenish-yellow.  Their  dimensions  vary  fr^m 
2.1.  by  l.oO  moh  to  2.05  by  1.40  inch.  About  the  latter 
part  of  August,  the  young  birds  are  found  in  deep  woods 
and  by  many  are  esteemed  as  excellent  eating,  as  they  are 
plump  and  fat.     They  leave  for  the  South  oa.^  hi  Oc  obe 


s  Vi 


~Y 


412 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


1.1 


SUB-ORDER  GRALL^.     Waders. 

Feathers  of  the  head  and  neck  extending  over  the  entire  cheeks  to  the  hill;  hill, 
when  much  longer  than  head,  slender  at  the  hase;  soinetinies  thick  and  shorter  than 
the  head;  young  ruiniing  ahout  and  feeding  themselves  as  soon  as  hatched. 

The  preceding  characteristics  indicate,  in  a  general  way,  the  characteristics  of 
the  (jrulhe  as  distinguished  t'roni  the  llnrodhnui:  tiiey  are  usually  much  smaller 
hirds,  and  nuire  es])ecially  iidiabitants  of  the  open  sandy  shore.  Kcw  or  miru'  (if  the 
spciies  nest  on  trees  or  bushes,  the  eggs  being  generally  laid  in  a  cavity  scooped 
ou^  in  the  sand.  ^ 

The  sub-order  is  divided  hy  lionaparte  into  two  tribes,  Ciimores  and  Alfctorliks 
(by  liurmeister  into  IJmicuhe  and  Pdlmlicohc) :  the  first  having  the  hind  toe  elevated, 
small,  or  wanting;  the  second  having  it  lengthened,  and  inserted  on  a  level  with  the 
rest.     Additional  characters  iire  as  follows:  — 

Li.MicoL.K.  —  Species  living  on  the  shore,  and  generally  probing  the  ground  or 
mud  in  search  of  food:  hill  and  legs  geiu'rally  lengthened  and  slender;  bill  hard  at 
tip,  sotter  and  more  contracted  at  base;  anterior  toes  connected  at  base  more  or  less 
by  nu'mbranes,  and  with  very  short  claws;  hind  toe  very  short,  elevated,  or  Wiinting; 
wings  long,  pointed;  outer  primaries  longest,  and  reaching  to  or  beyond  the  ti])  of 
tail,  which  is  stitt". 

l'Al,ui)K'()r,.n.  —  Species  living  in  marshy  places  among  the  grass,  feeding  from 
the  surface  of  the  gnumd;  bill  hard  to  its  base,  where  it  is  not  contracted;  toes  cleft 
to  the  base,  lengthened,  with  very  long  claws;  hind  toe  lengthened,  and  on  same 
level  with  the  rest;  wing  short,  rounded,  not  reaching  the  tip  of  the  soft  tail;  outer 
primaries  graduated. 

T'ribe  Limicol^. 


Birds  living  on  the  shore  or  in  o|)en  jilaees,  usually  small  species,  with  rounded 
or  depressed  bodies,  and  slender  bills  of  variable  length,  having  a  more  or  less  dis- 
tinct horny  terminal  jiortion,  the  remainder  covered  with  solt  skin,  in  which  are 
situated  the  elongated,  narrow,  open,  and  distinct  nostrils;  the  feathers  (if  the  bead 
are  small,  ami  extend  c(  nipactly  to  the  base  of  the  bill ;  they  arc  similar  in  charaeter 
to  those  of  the  neck  '.nd  body;  the  wings  arc  liuig,  acute,  and,  when  ndded,  reach- 
ing to  or  beyond  the  tip  of  the  tail;  the  posterior  or  inner  secondaries  are  generally 
as  long  as  the  (uiter  primaries;  the  |irinuiries  are  ten  in  number;  the  three  outer 
longest  and  ahout  equal;  the  tail  is  stitf,  short,  broad,  and  rounded  or  graduated; 
the  feathers  usually  twelve,  sometinu's  more;  tliii  legs  are  slender  and  delicate,  but 
ciMTespdnding  with  the  bill  in  i>r(ipiir(i(Mis;  a  large  portion  of  tlu^  tibia  bebiw  is  bare 
of  feathers;  the  covering  of  the  leg*  is  parchment-like,  not  horny,  generally  divided 
anteriorly  and  behind  into  small  half  rings,  laterally  more  in  hexagons;  the  claws 
are  delicate,  sharp,  and  gently  curved;  the  hind  Urn  is  very  small,  scarcely  touching 
the  ground;  somelinies  wanting;  there  is  usually  (except  in  Cnliilrln,  TriiK/n.  S^v.) 
a  rather  broad  basal  nu-mbrane  between  the  outer  and  middle  toes,  sometinies 
between  the  inner  and  middle;  this  web  occasionally  extends  tnward  the  ends  of  tlio 
toes.  —  BlIliMKISTEIt.l 


1  See  Introduction. 


THK  GOLDEN   PLOVER. 


418 


Family  CIIARADRIDiE.     T„k  P.ovkks. 


Bill  raflier  cylimlrical,  as  Umu:  as  tli..  hmri        i 
opposite  tlu,  ,u,strils,  the  va„Ite,l  apex  more' oHess  '^7  "'"  7"'"'^"  "^"'■''  '""""t-^d 
from  the  .ne.nhranous  portion;  kj  elevated    hi  '   T        ","""  ''"""'''  1"'*«  "'■'^t"'=t 
.nentao.  the  outer  anc.  middle  toes  more  orle.:;!.;;;::;;'^,^::;;--'  '""  ^"''■ 


CHARADRIUS,  Li.nn.eu.s. 

C/iararlnm,  Lixn.k,ts,  Syst.  Nat.  (1735). 
I'liima.uro  yeliowisli-.M-av  sDottcd  •  f.,ii  ♦' 
tar.  and  lower  ria^U.^^.^Xr^.^l^iJl'''''''' ''''''''  "°  -"^  -  "-k; 

CHAEADEIUS   VIEGINICUS.  -  no,rI.,„sen. 
The  Golden  Plover;  Bull-head. 

Aud.Orn.]Jiof;.,m.(is3o)G23  ""'' ^  "•  (1813)  ,1.  Nutt.  Man,  IL  (1834)  16. 

«,„■../,■/,„  ,7,.,;/,,/,,,, ..  n,„,k„„„,„  ^,„,,  „ 

^'""•"'''■""'  '"'"■'"o.v,/,...  Auduhun.    Or„.  IJiorr    V  r7M .    --    ''  ^°"'''  ^^^^^^' 

DESCI!U>TtON. 

Bill  rather  short;  legs  moderate-  wines  lm,„.  „    ■■    , 
and  behind  ,vith  .n.all  eireular  or  1,""  ^  ,  T,'  7  '"""  ''''^  ''''^^'  --"'•ed  hofore 
with  numerous  sn.all  eireuh.r  and  irre.^ihr  lunr   IT""  ^"'''  '^"'"•■•i^l'-l.laek, 
on  the  haek  and  nnnp.  and  on  the     H       t     "^  ''■"--^•^^^  >"'~ 

verse   hands   «-enerallv;    also  w,th   some  „  ;'••"''"""""  "'^' ''"•"'"f  trans- 

bla.k,,vi,h  a  hrownish  or  hronj     1   s^L^'.^r  •"""'"■'.  ""*'"  """-  '-*« 
>vlnte;  forehead,  horder  of  the  hla.k  of.h  ',      i  "  ""■^"''  "'  ^'""'^^  ^^'tl' 

axillaryrea.herseinere.u.s.,nn        ,,    V       ""■'^'''"''^'■'''''-^•""■S 
tV..,..u,ly  extending  Ml^^^^Tti^l^TZ;  ^      '  r'""  '"  '"^  ^'""^^  ^^"- 
^'-•ter  ,nills;  tail  dark^.rown,  J    .  "I;;:        'I  """r  'T'?"'"""  ^"''i-  -  the 
frequently  tinged  with  .olden-vellow  ..^  "C"-    "^'r;!'  ;'^">-"ite,  and 

}.wy,,..__rnder  „arts   d,  II  ..  I,  ^    '''"''  '•'"'•''•'-'irown. 

^-s,.,W,uen,lyn>ore':r.s        ;:;,;;;;'•;:;:  J^'''   "■ "i^"   -   t..   „eek   and 

-'""  -l.y-whi,e;    other  spots,  esp"   dl  M     t     """■?'"'^  '"' ""  "f'^--  P^^ 

To.al  length,  about  nine  ami  a  n     e     V    ""  ^"''''■"-^■'■"'-• 

half  inehes.  ""  '"''  "'"-  ''''■^■"  "'Hh-s;  tail,  two  and  a 

^^'*.  -  All  of  X,.rth  An.eriea,  South  An,eriea,  Xorthent  Asia,  Europe. 

rpmS  beautmU  and  well-known  hirtl  passes  throndi  Xew 
J-    I'^  .glH.ul  ui  the  spring  and  fall  nuoputmns  bnt  chl  ,  I 
pause  here,  in  either,  longer  than  tw^  or  th.'e     da         T 
urnves  from  the  Soutli  about  the  2.1th  of  An      ot  i  ; 
May,  nisnndltloeks  or  n.een  or  twenty,  and'i;:^,:^,;;: 


11'  > 


Ti!  r  m 


i^n. 


'ff 


l.'i! 


'ii\i 


>i,\< 


f> 


mui 


i  r 


WW' 


414 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


beach  on  the  seashore  and  marshes  in  its  neighborhood, 
where  it  feeds  on  small  shell-dsh  and  animalcules,  and  such 
seeds  as  it  may  find  at  that  early  season.  It  is,  at  this 
period,  thin  in  flesh,  but  its  plumage  is  perfect ;  and  it  is 
more  desirable  for  cabinet  preservation  then  than  in  the 
fall.  It  is  irregular  in  its  visits  in  the  spring  migrations ; 
being  quite  })lenty  in  some  seasons,  and  in  others  quite  rare. 
It  passes  to  the  most  northern  portions  of  the  continent  to 
breed;  none  being  found  in  the  season  of  incubation  in  the 
limits  of  the  United  States.  The  flocks  separate  into  pairs; 
but  they  breed  in  small  communities,  two  or  three  pairs 
being  found  in  the  area  of  an  acre.  The  nest  is  nothing 
but  a  hollow  in  the  grass  or  moss,  on  the  open  plain, 
scratched  l)y  the  female:  in  this  she  deposits  four  eggs, 
which  are  oblong- pyriform  in  shape,  of  a  creamy-l)uff  color, 
sometimes  with  an  olive  tint;  and  are  marked  irregularly, 
chiefly  at  their  larger  end,  with  spots  and  confluent  blotches 
of  umber  and  ol)scure  spots  of  lilac.  In  dimensions,  they 
average  about  2.10  by  1.40  inch.  It  is  in  the  fall  migra- 
tions that  these  birds  are  most  actively  pursued  by  s[)orts- 
men.  Tlie  great  flight  arrives  about  the  25th  of  August, 
sometimes  a  little  earlier  or  later,  if  wo  have  a  driving 
north-east  storm.  The  gunners  make  it  a  point  to  be  on  the 
])lover  grounds  the  last  week  in  August  and  first  week  in 
September:  if  they  get  no  plovers  then,  they  usually  aban- 
don the  hunt  for  the  season.  In  tlie  fall  of  180o,  these 
])ir(ls  did  not  alight  in  New  England  in  any  numbers,  but 
were  seen  seven  or  eight  miles  out  at  sea,  flying  at  a  great 
height,  in  immense  flocks,  towards  the  South,  and  not  a 
dozen  birds  were  killed  in  localities  where  thousands  are 
usnallv  taken.  Wlien  the  fiights  are  conducted  during  a 
storm,  the  birds  fly  low ;  and  the  gunners,  concealed  in  i)its 
dug  in  the  earth  in  the  pastures  and  hills  over  which  the 
flocks  pass,  with  decoys  made  to  imitate  the  birds,  placed 
within  gunshot  of  their  hiding-places,  decoy  the  passing 
flocks  down  within  reach  of  their  fowling-i)ieccs,  by  imitat- 


THE   KILL-DEER  PLOVER.  45^5 

ing  tl.eir  poculiar  wl.istle,  an.l  kill  groat  numr)ors  of  tl.om 
I  have  known  two  sportsn.en  to  bag  sixty  dozen  in  two  days' 
shoo  n.g;  and  n.stanccs  are  on  record  of  still  greater  nnm- 
bers  hen.g  seeured.     The  flesh  of  this  bird  is  very  delie I 
und  nne-fiavored ;  and  the  birds  are  in  great  demand  in  a^l 

wir  f ''  ':';"'^'"^^,^^'''^"^  >'igl»  Pnces  with  the  favorite 
AVoodcock.      The    Golden   Plover   feeds   on   grasshoppers 
various  msects,  and  berries,  but  is  seldom  found  in  the  inte^ 
nor  o    New  England  ;  the  pastures,  fields,  sandy  hills,  and 
dry  islands  near  the  scacoast,  being  its  favorite  resorts 


iEGIALITIS,  RoiE. 

^l^MUis,  ^^n^v.,  rsis  (I822),  ,W8.    ClVpe  ChnraMus  Inatlcul,,,  L  ) 
llmnaKe  ,n,„.e  .,r  l.ss  unilbr.n,  without  .spots;  neck  and  head  ffcnomllv  with 
.lark  ba.Hls;  iront  of  the  l.fe^s  with  ph.tes  arranged  verticallv   < 'f  Ui".!  h  ^ 
two  or  three  in  a  transverse  series.  ^niiaiij,  ot  ,vh,,i,  th.re  are 

Tliis  freiius,  as  Car  as  Xorth  AnuTica  is  co„<vrnpd   is  dis(i„,r„;  i,    ,  f 

absence  ot  ,onf  nwous  bh.ck  on  the  belly,  an.l  bv  the  prjsenee  of  ,b    II ' 

the  neck  or  head;  the  sixe  is  .nailer;  the  tarsi,  in^nost  ^.^^  Iwe  SJ!  T  ?" 

larger,  and  conspicuously  diflerent  in  this  respect  fro.n  the    os.'e  i     o  ^  ' '"''''" 


iEGIALITIS   VOCIFERUS.-  Cf«,m 
The  Kill-deer  Plover. 

CharaJnusvodferus,  Linna;us.  Syst.  Nat.,  1.  (1760)  253.  AVils  Am  Orn  ViT 
(1^13)  73.  N„tt.  .Man.,  II.  2,.  ..nd.  Orn.  IJiog.,  IIL  (1^35)  "•  V  S'' ^ 
Syn.,  222.     //>.,  liirds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  207.  MJi,    V.  o<7.     76., 

.-/■,>■((/(«  w//W'««,  IJonaparte.    List  (1838). 

Description. 

Wings  long,  reaching  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  which  is  al.so  rather  long;  head  above 
and  np,,er  parts  o,  body  light-brown  with  a  greenish  tinge;  run.p  and  ^,,,:  ; 
coverts  rulons,  l.ghter  on  the  latter;  front  and  linos  over  and  under  the  eve  whit  • 
another  band  o.  black  in  front  above  the  white  ban.l;  stripe  f-on,  the  l.lse  of  t  J 
11  .war  s  the  occ.put  br.,wnish-biack;  ring  encircling  the  neck  and  wide  band  o, 
t  e  breast  Idaek;  throat  white,  which  color  extends  upwards  around  the  neck 
0  her  utuler  parts  wlwte;  ,,uills  brownish-blaek  with  about  half  of  their  inner  webs' 
white,  shorter  prnnaries  with  a  large  spot  of  white  on  their  outer  webs,  secondaries 
wulely  ,pped  or  edged  with  white;  tail  teathers  pale-ru.ous  at  base;  ,i,e  four  mid: 
die  hgh  ol,ve-brown  t.ppe.l  with  white,  and  with  u  wide  subterminal  band  of  black; 
lateral  feathers  wulely  tipped  with  white;   entire  upper  phunage  fre.,uently  edged 


ia.i, 


i 


s , 


:i  ii 


I  ! 


I        I 


U,L.iJLLu» 


Ubiil 


41G 


OHNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


and  tipped  with  rufous;  very  younR  linvo  upper  parts  liKht-f^rny,  with  a  Ioiif,'itudinal 
band  on  tlic  licnd  aud  liacl<,  Maidt;  tinder  parts  white. 

Total  length,  aliout  nine  and  a  hall'  inelies;  winj;,  six  and  a  half  inches;  tail, 
three  and  a  half  inches. 

//««.  — Xorth  America  to  tiie  Arctic  refjions,  :Mc.Kico,  South  America. 

This  species  is  pretty  goiiorally  distributed  tlirongliout 
New  England  as  a  summer  resident.  It  is  not  common  in 
any  lo<-Mties,  but  seems  to  be  found  in  pairs  all  along  our 
scac  •  id,  allliougli  occasionally  breeding  in  the  inte- 

rior ol  ■  ■  se  States,  in  the  neighborhood  of  large  tracts  of 
water,  it  is  almost  exclusively  Ibund,  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  in  moist  fields  and  meadows  and  sandy 
pastures,  within  a  few  miles  of  the  sea.  Wilson  describes 
its  habits  as  follows  :  — 

"  Tliis  restless  an<l  noisy  bird  is  known  to  almost  every  inhabi- 
tant of  tlie  United  States,  being  a  common  and  jiretty  coiisttnit 
resident.  During  the  severity  of  tlie  winter,  when  snow  covers 
the  gi'on.id,  it  retreats  to  the  seiisliore,  where  it  is  found  at  all 
seasons ;  but  no  sooner  have  the  rivers  opened,  tlian  its  slu-ill 
note  is  again  lieard,  either  roaming  about  higli  in  air,  tracing  tlie 
shore  of  the  river,  or  running  amidst  the  w;itery  ilats  and  mi'adows. 
As  sprintr  advances,  it  resorts  to  tlie  newly  ploughed  lields,  or  level 
plains  bare  of  grass,  interspersed  with  shallow  pools  ;  or,  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  sea,  dry,  bare,  sandy  fields.  In  some  sudi  situation 
it  generally  chooses  to  breed,  about  the  beginning  of  IMay.  Tlio 
nest  is  usually  slight,  a  mere  hollow,  with  such  materials  drawn  in 
around  it  as  hiippen  to  be  near,  such  iis  bits  of  sticks,  stniw,  ])(b- 
bles,  or  e:n-th.  In  one  instiUice,  1  found  the  nest  of  the  bird 
paved  with  fragments  of  elain  and  oyster  shells,  and  very  neatly 
surrounded  with  a  mound,  or  border,  of  the  s;ime.  placed  in  a  very 
clo.se  and  curious  manner.  In  some  cases,  there!  is  no  vestige 
whatever  of  a  nest.  The  eggs  are  usindly  four,  of  a  bright  rich 
cream  or  yellowish-day  color,  thickly  marked  with  blotches  of 
black.  They  are  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  measuring  niofe 
than  an  inch  and  a  hidf  in  length,  and  a  full  inch  in  width,  taper- 
ing to  a  narrow  point  at  the  great  end. 

"Nothing  can  exceed  the  alarm  and  anxiety  of  these  birds 
durinsr  the  breeding  season.     Their  cries  of  kill-deer,  kill-deer,  as 


ifl" 


THE   KILL-DEER   PLOVER.  ^ 

l-n  >v,.l,  ,l,„ir  |,„«,i„g  „,         '  '„„    i  ;,   "i,  ^  "'  ""  '"  """* 
<-x.c„.  „f  ,™„„,  „,„,  ,,  ;  „,,;;--  "o  "i.lo  a„ 

spot  wlioii,  rho  i,Mt  or  vouii.r  •„■,.  „  .V  "'°  P""'«il»r 

"■« ""y  l">ard  will,  e,„„I  vi„l„„  J  I '7      f    '    .'"'  °''"  "'■<■ 

;-..-o  .u...,  u  ..pcar:'p:it;;;:.':,,:';i;;'::ttrr  "r*. • 

than  most  of  their  tribe      Th.-v  .,r.  ^  **  ^"'''^  ^'"nes 

-Hi  n.ny   of   these  rte         t^  ,  rj' T   "' T"^'' ^"  ^™' 

Fowiin,  of  0.1s  .a,  also  i^'^  ^:::i;';^.  !"^"^-  ^"« 

those  hours  ;  but,  whatever  may  be  the  cnlr  „     /  '"  ^"""-  ^^ 

"The  Kih-,,eer  is  more  abu.Kl  ,  t  L Ms    ^     t  ""  "• 
ter  than  in  summer.     Amon.  the    t  f  n  '""'  ^''''''  '"  ^^•"- 

Planters'  ,ar.s,  in  South  aLl! II,  l^^^^:^,:'^  ^^"^  ^^^ 
>"  tlie  months  of  February  and  ]\r„.ch  Thl  ?  ''^  "'"""''""« 
n-ently  practise  the  barbaVous  mo  of  e.^  ^  'T,  "^  »^°.  ^  '^^- 
at  the  extremity  of  whieh  is  i  rrnojll  "•        ""  '"*''  ''*  ^'n«' 

T..ir«i,htiss;methin,,iJ.Lr  JW^^ 
a"<l  they  sometimes  rise  to  a  ...o.t  I  •""'"''■'»•"■""« ' 
are  fond  of  wadin,  in  pool  of  ."i^ter,'?;  "  '"^  '''•  ^''^'3' 
-Ives  durin,  the  .^.nnnlr.  'rl^^t^Z.^r'''  '"'"'  ^^'^^'"- 
and  run  or  walk  with  the  body  in  a  iff  ,  l'  TT^  '"  '"'^  ^^^"^' 
■••■uwith  great  swiftness,  and  are  alsllln  ;  •'""'""  ^'"'^' 
-in,.s.  Their  tlesh  is  eaten  by  some  bu  i  .f  ."  "'"""  '"  ^^^ 
t'-,h  others  say,  that,  in  the  ^^s^^^  I"' ''''''''' '^'^^"^^ 
is  excellent.  '     ^"  "'^^  ^«««me  very  fat,  it 

"  Dnring  the  extreme  droughts  of  summo,.  fi 
^l'e.ravel,y  channel  of  brooks^nd  sL:;:        ;  ^^^  ^ ^  l^  '' 
7"'«  ••^••"•'t  in  searc.h  of  aquatic  insects-  at    h''!  .        '''''" 

ti'oy  generally  descen,!  to  the  seashore  i    im,        T"  f/"""""' 
^''-'  ten  or  twelve  being  seen  to.et lu  ,•      TlT  .  ''  ''^'^'"^  '""'•'' 

a...i  silent,  as  well  as  dHHcult  ^rte  ii^rof  t^r"  '''''  °^"^^  ^^-- 

The  eggs  of  tills  species  are  four  in  tnittiber      Tb. 
oi>long-p,nlb„n  i.  shape,  efea.„,.,ntir  in  0:^^;^^;;^       " 


Ir'tl 


I'll! 


il'lt 


'  1 


ii'i\)    '. 


418 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOfiY. 


ous  spots  and  blotches  of  durk-brovvn,  chiefly  at  lluMi-  -roator 
end.  Tlicy  vary  in  dimensions  from  1.05  l)y  1.10  uich  to 
1.50  by  1.08  inch ;  bnt  one  brood  is  reared  in  the  season. 

aiGIALITIS  WILSONIUS.-(0)v/.)  Omln. 
Wilson's  Plover;  Bing-neck. 
,  .      ,.,-,      •       r^  1    T.M    wiu    Orn     IV.  (182r.)  77.    Nutt.  Man.,  II. 
(1834)  21.     Ami.  Orn.  15i«i},'.,  HI-  (iMu)  ">-    *•  V*--"' 
(18^2)  214.  iiKSCHimoN. 

Smaller  than  tl.o  promling;  l.iH  rather  Io.ir  and  robust. 

j/„,,._Vn,„,,  an.l  stripo  ov.r  tl.e  eye,  a,ul  .ntir.  u.ul.r  parts,  win     ;    r. m   w  ,1. 

a  .;o„,l  Imu.l  of  .,la.k  above  the  white  band;  stripe  fro.n  the  base  ol  the  b,ll  to  .he 

V         .wide  transverse  ,,an,l  on  .he  breast,  hrownisb-bae). ;  upper  parts  o    head 

Ind  b     V  liuht  ashv-brown,  with  the  leathers  ire,,uen.ly  educed  and  t.pped  w.th  pa  e- 

V    Ik  o    t  .e'>.eck  en;ircled  .i.h  a  rin.  of  white,  ed^ed  above  w,.l>hne  h,  t- 
3i  h-  ..uills  brown,  with  white  shalts;  shorter  eoverts  t,pped  w,.l>  wh,  e;  o,,.,. 

ers..    the  tail  white,  n.iddle  feather,  dark-brown,  bU   biaek,  le«s  yelh.w 
';;;„„,,,_  With,.ut  the  hand  of  bla.k  in  front,  a.td  w.th  the  pectoral  band  dull- 
ro/lilwh  and  li"lit  asliv-lirown;  iris  redilisli-brown.  ,    ,,.     , 

t1i  lilS  sl^vJn  and  three  ..narter  inehes;  winR,  fbur  and  a  half  nulu.,  ta,l, 

*'"7/"a. -Middle  and  Southern  States  on  the  Atlantic,  and  the  same  coast  of  South 
America. 

This  species  is  found  in  New  Ei.-land  only  as  a  somewhat 
rare  visitor  in  the  autumn,  after  it  has  reannl  its  youn-  n.  a 
more  souther.,  '-ality.  I  think  that  it  sehlo.u  passes  north 
of  the  southern  <   of  Cape  Cod;  btit  it  is  there  occa- 

sionally seen  in  li.        nly  part  of  September,  gleaniMo-  ,ts 
food  of  animalcuhc  a>,        -all  shell-fish  and  insects  on  the 

sandy  beach  of  the  oce..  _     ..,,•,    .1 

The  Wilson's  Plover  is  1,  '  southern  in  its  habits  than 
cither  of  the  succeeding  speci^  •.  but  it  breeds  abun.lantly 
on  the  seacoast  of  New  Jersey.  The  nest  is  notlung  bnt  a 
hollow  scratched  in  the  sand,  above  high-water  mark,  with 
a  few  bits  of  seaweed  or  grass  for  its  lining.  The  eggs  arc 
laid  about  the  first  week  in  June.  They  are,  like  hose 
of  the  other  Waders,  pyriform  in  shape;  and,  when  paced 
in  the  nest,  their  small  ends  are  together  in  the  m.dd  0  ot 
the  nest.    They  almost  exactly  resemble  the  eggs  ol  the 


THK   S,,MH.ALMATK.>   VLOVm.  ^jg 

KilWoor  Plover,  hut  an.  son.,  little  snnll 

«P<'f.s  u„d  nuirkiMKs  are  „i„;ih,        V  "*  ''^^  ^"^^^  '"^'''.     The 

--  lo-  thiekly  d^tnhut        tL^\    T  ^ 

«l'o^«  of  purple  and  lil.e,  a nc     1 '  '"  '"^^'^  "''•^^"••« 

'1-to  black.,,  to  the  eoi;;:' :!;:jr^^^ 

^OIALITISSEMIPALMAm.-,..,  ,,,„„, 
The  Semipalmated  Plover;  Ein^-neck. 


•^•"•<>m.,  VII.  (i«,3)«5; 
IH:.s{'iiii"ri()\. 


.Small;  w„,f.s  lonfj;  (,„,s  ,.„„„,,,(,.,|  ,w  1, 
toe!  (n.„t.  tl.ro,,,,  ri„^.  „n„„Hl  ,|,..  mi..       'T' '"'''"''"">'  """  ""t"--  <o  ,1,,  ,„i,Hi 

'■'■  -':■;.■'-.,■,  Mack;  upp,.r  parts    ^     '  ,,    i:;'"'  "":',"■'""  '^""""  •""-' 
l.r..w„,.s|.-Ma..k,  with  tluwr  .|,a  ,.s  „.|,i,t    ,»'"'"'  '""'  "  "'"^'"  '"'  "liv.;  ,,„■  I 

^vlMt,.;  tw„  outer  tail  .^.athers  whit       ,1      '■'"""'•^''-'''"•k-  m„l  narrowly  tip,   ,,        ,' 
•iPI-'  -ith  whi,..;  1,1,1  oran"  "';;"'"  7--""i"t^S  )ik.  the  ,„i,l„i^  t    , 

;;;^i-;a....rii,i,u,r.oio,;,^';:::;;':;;-;;i'';j=j'^^     K,,,:,:; 

«M.l  a  ,p,arl..r  i„.h...s.  '  ""'^''  '"'"•  "■"'  ""'■^-quarters  inches;  tail,  two 

•P-atc  North  Amenca,  common  on  the  Atlantic. 

I-P-  po.,d»  and  .,H.ud.nv      I  "  '"'""""«  ""=  «l""-e»  of 

i"K  .1..  .soao„a»,  w,,„,      ,;„"',  ;'Sr;?'-"''f--  «'""»- 
gomis,  „„  small  cn,»tacoa„8  si  Ml  r  '"  """■■"  "''  ""» 


m 


1. 'li- 
lt I'  |ir 

ill '  i 


,'  1 


420 


OUNTTIIOLOnV   AND  OOLOOY. 


AUhoufih  I  found  n  single  pair  with  tlioir  nest  on  the 
island  of  Muskef?oct,  Mass.,  in  Juno,  1800,  this  bird  gener- 
ally breeds  in  the  most  northern  i)art8  of  the  continent. 
Audubon,  in  describing  its  breeding  habits,  says,— 

"  As  soon  as  one  of  us  was  noticed  by  a  Ring  Plover,  it  would 
nt  once  stand  still,  and  become  silent.     If  we  did  the  same,  it 
<-ontinued,  and  seldom  failed  to  wear  out  our  patience.     If  wo 
advanced,  it  would  lower  itself,  and  »(\unt  on  the  moss  or  bare  rock 
until  approached,  when  it  would  sud<leidy  rise  on  its  feet,  droop  its 
wings,  depr(!ss  its  head,  and  run  with  great  speed  to  a  considerable 
distance ;  uttering,  all  the  while,  a  low  rolling  and  querulous  cry, 
very  pleasing  to  the  ear.     On  being  surprised  whtn  in  charge  of 
their  young,  they  would  open  their  wings  to  the  full  extent,  and 
beat  the  ground'with  their  extremities  as  if  unable  to  rise.     If 
pursued,  ilwy  allowed  us  to  come  within  a  few  feet,  then  took  flight, 
and  attempted  to  decoy  us  away  from  their  young,  which  lay  so 
close  that  wo  very  seldom  discovered  them ;  but  whi(!h,  on  being 
traced,  ran  swiftly  off,  uttering  a  plaintivt;  peep,  often  repeated, 
that  never  failed  to  bring  their  parents  to  their  aid.     At  Labrador, 
the  Ring  Mover  begins  to  breed  in  the  beginning  of  June.     Like 
the  Pii)big  Plover,  it  forms  no  nest;  but,  whilst  tins  latt(;r  scoops  a 
place  in  the  sand  for  its  eggs,  the  Ring   Pl^'ver  forms  a  similar 
cavity  in  the  moss,  in  a  place  sheltered  from  the  north  winds,  and 
exposed  to  the  full  rays  of  the  sun,  usually  near  the  margins  of 
small  ponds  formed  by  \be  melting  of  the  snow,  and  surrounded  by 
short  grass.     The  eggs,  like  those  of  all  the  family,  are  four,  and 
placed  with  the  small  Cuds  together.     They  are  broad  at  the  larger 
end,   rather  sharp  at  the  other;    measure  1^  inch  in  length,  IJ 
inches   in   their  greatest  breadth;  are  of  a  dull-yellowish  color, 
irregularly  blotched  and  spotted  all  over  with  dark-brown  of  dif- 
ferent tints." 

Early  in  September,  somctimos  by  the  20th  of  August, 
small  flocks  of  these  birds  appear  in  New  England,  and 
they  remain  here  as  late  as  the  first  week  in  October :  they 
are  now  fat  and  delicate,  and  are  esteemed  excellent  for  the 
table. 


IIIL.J 


1  ■in' 


TIIK   PIPING   PLOVKK. 


421 


The  Piping^  Plover. 
dinrmlriut  meMut,  HuUall.     Man     H    is      a    .    ,. 

^^'."'";'  "'^'"''"».  I«.'n«,,„r.o.     Lis,  ( ,«;,«) 

^t'""''""  ""'"'/"-.  <'"1'"-MH.    Jour.  (IKW)  424 

( '"•ra.inus  JauUaUa.     Wils.  An..  On,,  J.  (1.",^)  .10. 

About  .h.si.o  of  the  precodinK «hort,  s„-o„.. 

^lr/«/<  _  |H,r..|u.,..|,  riuff  un.uu.i  ,l,e  |,„,k  „r  ,|,;,     u         . 
white,  a  ha,Hl  of  l.la.k  in  fn.nt  ,.l.ov.  ,1...  Land  .,1  ,'''',  ""'    '"'"'  "'"'"^  I""-'^ 
More  and  ln.|,in,l  Ida.  k,  inuuvdialHy  1k.|ow    L    :.        '''    ""     "'"'"'^'"^  "'"  "•"'< 
"-"'  "'"-■  '""'  -'IM-r  parts  o.h.,dv;  i^    ^      ,    i  ''       """"  ""  ""  "^''•'^  '»'-'"! 

.;.'-.•..  IiKl.t.,r,  and  often  „earlv  wfu  o;    '     ?      l'';;;'''^ ;'/'"">•  '""I  u,,,,.  tail 

".o.r  nuu.r  w.l.  and  shall,  uidt.;  Mu  r,  r      i  j  ^,^::';'  "'"  "  '"'^^  I-i-n  of 
outer  M-..|,s  white;  tail  at  hase  white,  and  wi  "  ^''^"  '""•"""  '"  '"-■• 

'^:;'"--i.i.  u  wide  suhtenuinal   --an  ^     ..    r,;;;^:  '"^^^  -""<■=  ...idd.o 

bdl  orange  at  base,  tipped  with  biaek;   b  J       .^        f '  "'      '"''"''  "■'"' ^vhite; 
/V/«.,/e.-.Sin.ih.r  to  the  n.ule,  but  w  ih  i^,     ""f     '■""**'• 

iw„  -No  hb.ek  band  in  ivi  *,;::;': 'r"r"-""'^^ "' -•"■"• 

brown;  iris  brown.  '"'  "'"  '"»'•'«  "»   the  ne.k  ashv- 

Totai  b'li^rtii,  about  seven  inelies-  win.r  (• 

(Mr.  (;.  Wurdenmnn).  '  ^"^""'^''  <''"'"'•  Warren);  l.ouisia.m 

This  pretty  and  woll-knowii  snccios  is  uv.h.     i       ,      , 
'"«^n''uted  alon.  the  coast  of  C  K.    !■    d  f/  "''^ 

-idont      Itan.ivo.fVonUl.0.0..;;    i:;^^^ 
111  small  fiocks,  and  soon  scU-cts  if^  l...     .  '"''* 

Hon.  fact  ofoccan  boach  ;  ^  L^^  r  nl"'""-':'""  •'" 

and  lias  been  known  tu  breed  o,.  the  bor.lers  of  .  .' 

Uve-dy  nules  from  the  seaboard  ;  bnt  gene:  i^  L1^^  ^I::^ 
laud,  It  seldom  wanders  far  from  the  sh,„v   L,        .         " 


I'l" 


■Hi 


1-  I' 


'i:;!i^' " 


II I '  'SI 


422 


OUNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


The  noat  is  nothing  hut  a  hollow  in  tho  sand  Hcrnpcil  hy 
tlio  ibnmlo  l)iril:  it  «umctinios  has  a  slight  lining  of  pioces 
of  grass  or  soawood  :  hut  usually  tho  eggs  aro  do[)OHitcd  on 
tho  haro  sand.  TIkjso  aro  four  in  nunilHM',  iilMU[)tly  pyri- 
form  in  shapu,  and  a  hoautil'ul  light  croaniy-ltulV  in  color, 
with  thinly  scattorod  spots  oC  Idack  and  brown,  and  sonio- 
tinios  a  low  ohscuro  spots  of  lilac.  Th(!y  averago  smaller  in 
size  than  either  of  the  priMseding,  varying  from  l.;')()  hy  1  inch 
to  1.20  hy  .95  inch  in  dimensions.  Tlusy  do  not  resonihlo 
tho  others,  being  much  more  fmely  marked  ;  and  their  small 
ends  aro  more  rounded. 

The  breeding  habits  and  general  characteristics  of  this 
so  much  resemblt!  those  of  the  preceding  species  that  tho 
same  remarks  will  apfdy  to  both. 

SQUATAROLA,  Cuviek. 

SqmUiroh,  Cuvier,  Hi-Rho  .viiiiii.,  \.  (1S17).    (Typo  Tiinyn  sqmtnroln,  I,inn.) 
A  rudiiiR'ntary  hind  toe;  U'k«  retifuliited,  with  idoHKnlfd  hi'.\ii^,'niis  niiterinrly,  of 

which  there  are  live  or  six  in  ii  trunsversu  row;  iowur  beiiind;  first  primary  lontjwt; 

tail  slightly  rounded. 

SQUATAEOLA    HELVETICA.  —  runec. 

The  Black-bellied  Plover. 

Tringn  heh'etica,  T.innieus.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (1700)  250. 
Si/nutitnild  Inlnlim.     Cuvier,  I!.  A.,  (1H17). 

ClKiriKlrlus  Imlvetkiis,  Audubon.  Orn.  Hiof,'.,  IV.  (1^38)  280.  Jb.,  Birds  Amer., 
V.  (1742)  iim. 

ClKiniilrlui  ajiricarius,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  VII.  (1813)  41. 

Dkscihitios. 

llitt  and  lej^s  strnnf;;  winj^'s  loiif;;  a  very  small  rudimentary  hind  too;  nromid  the 
base  of  thu  bill  to  the  eyes,  neek  before  and  under  parts  of  body,  blac  k ;  upprr 
white,  nearly  jtnre  and  unspotted  on  the  fort^head ;  Hides  of  tho  neek  and  nnnp  lin^'ed 
with  ashy,  and  havinu  irregular  transverse  bars  of  hrownish-blaek  on  the  baek, 
scapulars,  and  wiu),'  coverts;  tlu'  brownisli-blaek  fnipieiilly  predomlnalinf;  on  those 
part.s,  and  tho  rump  also  froiiuenlly  with  transverse  bars  of  the  same;  lower  part  of 
the  alxlomen,  tibia,  and  under  tail  coverts,  white;  (luills  brownish-ldaek,  lighter  on 
their  inner  webs,  with  a  middle  portion  of  their  shafts  white,  and  a  narrow  lon;;i- 
tudinal  stripe  of  white  freipieiitly  on  the  shorter  primarii's  and  secondaries;  tail 
whiti,  with  transverse  imperfect  narrow  baiiils  of  black;  bill  and  lej^s  black;  the 
black  color  of  the  under  parts  generally  with  a  bronzed  or  coppery  lustre,  and  pre- 


THE   BLACK-BKLLIKD   PLOVRR. 


428 


lb.,  nirdu  Amor., 


KrifiiUh  hiMro.  r .wiiiMi-i.iurk  of  tho  „ppcr  pan,  with  a 

""'I  inv.ular  «n,all  .,„„     .,f  whi,..    a  ',■,.'''''',''''''':  '''"•■*-•""*..,  with  circular 

.I-  win,  c-.v..rts;  uppor  t„  I  ^        .t'  i'.     ■'  "'  >'""^^- •"••^'   -- "M 

-'i""l  N"-  .....I  spotiliark  l.r„w    :  1  i    !:;,;:,  ;:'t  ^^   ';•••  -"'  ^'-t  lo„«i. 

outor  w,.|,H  of  th.,  Hi,  .i.T  prin,arlI.H.  ""■  "*'"'"*'  "'"'  '»''*"  «"  "'« 

.candy  u,s.s,..nl.,K  a  circular  Himp.,,    narrow  1      ..,,,'     \"'   "■■■"«"'"'  •" 
nuin..r.HiH;  iris  l,la,k.  "  ""  •'"-  '"■^■''  «"J  l^uLst  more 

...ii';;;;!./;;;;^""""'  ^'"^^"  ""'• » "-^ '-»-'  >vi„.,sovcn„„.,a.,«,f ;,.,.., 

^__M,.-AII  ..f  Nurth  A.acrica.    Tho  .acoa.t.  of  ...arl,  all  couutrle.  of  the 

This  beautilul  binl  i.s  uhnost  of  ll.o  samo  l.aluts   and 
cl,aracUn...st,c.s  as  tho  Gohlou  l>love.  de.scriho.l  ou  a  p  oc' d 
n.K  pago.     1   arr.ves  and  doj.arts  at  nearly  tho  san  o  t  n,' 
m  sprui,  and,  like  that  specio.s,  breeds  in  tlfe  uu.  Z-tl    n. 
.oct.ons  ot  the  continent.     Wilson,  in  speaking  ofits  l^-  ed 
mgmrenn.sylvania,  says,—  us  uiccu- 

"  TliLs  bir<l  is  know,,  i,,  Ho,no  pa,-ts  of  tl,o  country  by  the  name 
of  the  Lu,-ge  W  i.stlin,  Fi,.|<,  P,..,..     It  gonondly' .al     t     ^s 
appearance  ,„  Pennsylvania  late  in  April ;  fVe.p.ents  the  co     t^^ 
towa,jls      .0    .nountains;    see.ns   partieula,-ly  Intacl.od    to   ,e 
10,., bed  ,u.lds.  wl.e,.e  it  form,  its  nest  of  a  few  slight  u.atcrir  s 
slightly  put  togc.the,-.     The  female  lays  four  e,r°    ].',;, 
si.eofthebi,..l,ofaligbt.oliveeolor,Li:;;;;C;.^X 
fre,,ue„tly  two  broods  i„  tho  same  season.     It  is  an  nvf. 
and  watchM  bird,  though  ehunorous  during^  ^^^bSr:!^  "^ 

Abont  tho  10th  or  t5th  of  September,  or  a  fortnight  later 
ban  the  Go  den  Plover,  ,t  rotnrns  on  its  sonthern  niio,,,- 

t.on  ;  and  tho  same  means  are  employed  Ibr  its  dostruc 
•on  as  lor  that  bird:  these  birds  arc  called  by  tho  g,mners 
y  to  nan.o  of  Beetle-heads,  and  arc  esteemed  at      i  ! 

nearly  as  palatable  and  delicate  as  the  other  species. 


1'   I 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  PHALAROPODIDiE.    The  Phalaropes. 

Feathers  of  breast  compact,  duck-like ;  Icfjs  with  transverse  scutelloa  before  and 
behind;  toes  to  the  tii)s  with  a  lateral  margin,  more  or  less  indented  at  the  joints, 
the  hinder  witli  a  feeble  lobe ;  bill  equal  to  or  longer  than  the  head,  the  lateral  groove 
extending  nearly  to  the  tip.  < 


PHALAROPUS,  Brisson. 
Membrane  of  toes  scolloped  at  the  joints. 

PHALAEOPnS    HYPERBOEEUS.— remm. 
The  Northern  Phalarope. 

Trinfffi  hyperboren,  Linnreus.    8v8t.  Nat.,  L  (176G)  249. 

Plialarojms  hypevbortus,  Temm.  Man.,  11.(1820)  709.  Aud.  Cm.  Biog.,  IIL 
(1835)118;  V.  595. 

Desciui'tion. 

Bill  short,  straight,  pointed ;  wings  long ;  tail  short ;  legs  short. 

Adult.  —  Neck  encircled  with  a  ring  of  bright-ferruginous,  and  a  stripe  of  the 
same  on  each  side;  head  above  and  neck  behind  sooty-ash;  back,  wings,  and  tail, 
brownish-black,  paler  on  the  rump,  mixed  with  bright-ferruginous  on  the  back;  tips 
of  greater  wing  coverts  white;  sides  an<l  flanks  ashy,  fre(iuently  mixed  with  red- 
dish; throat,  breast,  and  abdomen  white;  bill  and  legs  dark;  iris  dark-brown. 

l'(rt(Hv.  — Entire  uyii)er  parts  brownish-black;  many  feathers  edged  and  tipped 
with  dull  yellow  and  ashy;  under  ]iart»  white;  tips  of  greater  wing  coverts  white. 

Total  length,  about  seven  inches;  wing,  four  and  half;  tail,  two  and  a  quarter; 
bill,  one;  tarsus,  three-fourths  of  an  inch. 

THE  Nortlioni  Phalarope  is  rarely  found  on  the  seacoast 
of  New  England  in  the  spring  and  autumn  migrations ; 
appearing  in  the  I'ormer  al)out  the  10th  of  Afay,  and  in  the 
latter  about  the  2.)th  of  August.  The  migrations  are  per- 
formed by  the  birds  in  small  iloeks  out  at  sea;  and  it  is  only 
when  they  are  driven  into  shore  by  heavy  winds  and  storms 
that  they  are  found  hero,  aud  then  scarcely  more  than  two  or 
three  birds  are  taken  in  a  season.  This  species  is  equally  a 
swimmer  and  wader.  AVheu  on  the  water,  it  has  the  appear- 
ance of  a  small  Gull  or  Tei'u,  swimming  with  great  elegance 


THE  NORIHEBM  PHALAROPE.  435 

and  case,  froquoiitly  dippij,,,  its  i,iir  ,-„t„  .1 

a  small  marine  a,Lal„r°fl"      "'"'",""' """-t"  ^"cure 

wheu  thus  omployod,  that  tho  bird  haTbr  ^  '"  ^T'"' 

facility;  f..„,„e„..,  ..ttoring'a  tm  cTsiraTt:!  ^^T' 

bles  cree«  ^r^^g  teet.     It  is  said  fl.nf  fi  ^'^°  ^•^"^- 

ful  to  each  other  for  1:  eell;  "^      ,r°Tf"  ""  '"'«- 
tnio  tliis  mav  he  •  but  it  .„„      ""'«<"'!•    I  Itiiow  not  liow 

fact,  that,  in  L'f..'^:  e    ,:  eTor« 'T '"":'  "■"'»  «« 
of  Moxieo,  they  are  n,o,,  nft'  '''°''°'  "^  "'<"  Gulf 

or  four,  often  by  ^r  T  ''"°"  "'  ""•■"'  l""««'*  "f"'"" 
norther,',  .ectlonloT,;  co,  iLr^'Tt  b'Tf'-'"  "'"  '"°«' 
the  n,-st  week  in  J„„e  i,^  , '  ?{  ,  .  n  '  '"  '"=''  "'«»" 
is  constructed  of  a  f^t^  ee^o  f^  tr'  '  ^^  ™"""-^^  "- 
together,  and  placed  in  a  t  ussoekof  "'°'''  ""'  '""-""^ 
eggs  are  nsnaSy  f„„r  in  L^'  ^4""  "^  eTV  ''"" 

i«;;^ra:::^:-2.nL:::H^" 


ri;  ;i 


;  mi: 


:  u; 


n  fsH 


it 


4  M 


426 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  SCOLOPACIDiE.    The  Snipes. 

LcKs  with  transverse  scutolhu  before  ona  behind;  toei  not  margined  broadly  to 
the  tips,  witii  or  without  ba.al  membrane;  hind  toe  generally  present;  bill  generally 
longer  than  the  head,  the  groove  extending  beyond  the  middle. 

Suh-FumUy  Scolopacinje. 

Bill  swollen  at  the  end,  and  covered  almost  to  the  tip  with  a  soft  skin,  the  edges 
onlvof  U.e  rather  vauUed  tip  horny;  the  end  of  the  upper  bill  generally  bent  a 
little  over  the  tip  of  lower;  the  jaw-bone  in  typical  genera  llnoly  porous,  and  per- 
forated bv  vessels  and  nerves,  imparting  a  i>igh  degree  of  •'•ens.bd.ty  to  the  In  1, 
enabling  "it  to  llnd  food  in  the  mud;  after  death,  the  end  o.  bdl  .s  usually  p, ted; 
legs  rather  stout;  the  naked  portion  of  the  tibia  much  abbreviated;  the  hind  toe 
^v-dl  develope,l  and  generally  present;  the  toes  usually  without  basal  membrane 
(except  in  Macvovluimphui,  Sic). 

PlIILOHELA,  G.  R.  Guay. 

rhlMnh,  Guay.  List  of  Genera  (1841).    Gmelin.    (Type  Scolopax  viinnr.) 

Bodv  verv  full,  and  head,  bill,  and  eyes  very  largo;  tibia  short,  feathered  to  the 

joint;  toeseiert  to  base;  wings  short,  rounded:  lirst  three  primaries  very  narrow, 

and  much  attenuated;  the  fourth  and  lifth  e,,ual  and  longest;  tars,  stout  shorter 

than  the  middle  toe;  hind  nail  very  short,  conical,  not  extending  beyond  the  toe; 

tail  of  twelve  feathers,  ..„.,,•  ■ 

The  present  genus,  embracing  a  single  species,  the  American  ^Voodcock,  is  much 
like  Scohpn^,  with  the  l.uropean  Woodcock  as  typo,  in  color  and  external  nppear- 
„nce  The  most  striking  ditlerence  is  seen  in  the  wings  which  are  short,  roiiiidod, 
the  tburth  and  fifth  primaries  longest,  and  the  outer  three  attenuated :  while  in  .Seo/.- 
pax  the  wings  are  long,  the  first  primary  longest  and  more  attenuated. 

PHILOHELA  MINOE.  —  ('''"i/. 
The  American  Woodcock. 
Scolopax  mirwr,  Wilson.    Am.  Or,..,  VL  (1812)  40.     Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IIL  (1^.33) 

474. 

/iw/ZcoA.  ?/»•»»<•,  Xiittall.    Man..  11.(18.34)  194. 

Scolopax {micrnptera)  minor,  Nuttall.    Man.,  II.  (1834)  194. 

rinlohela  minor,  Gray.      List  ( lencra  (1841 ). 

l)K,sriiIl>TION. 

Bill  long  compressed,  punct.dated  and  corrugated  near  the  end  ;  upper  ma.MliMe 
longer  tlum 'the  u..der,  a.id  lilted  to  it  at  the  tip;  wings  moderate,  tlirce  ti.s.  ,|,„lls 
ven^  narrow;  tail  short;  legs  moderate;  eyes  inse.-ted  ui.usuallydista.it  ir.mi  tlie 


9^ 


THE  AMERICAN   WOODCOCK. 


Biog.,111.  (1S35) 


427 

bill ;  occiput  with  three  transverse  bands  of  hln,.t  „u        .• 

pale  yellowish-rufous;   upper  parts  ot   bl  '        ?"""^  *""'  »"•««  others  of 

yollowish-rea  of  various  sILlesrillai^a^^^^^^^^^^^^^  T  ""'"''■^''>''  -"'-.  - 
-In.  line  ,ron.  the  eye  to  the  ^i,,,  a.uuL.^  ^.^  iHr.'T'f  ""J  "'-^  -""'«"- 
'''";;k ;  entire  under  parts  pale-rulous,  bri.ht  r  „    t  li  7  '""  "''"'  ''™""''*''- 

quills  ashy-hrown;  tail  tWuhers  hro^.n^^  ;;""""  "r' ""'^'^'- ^^"'^  <^»verts: 
ui^-  sur,iu.e,  pal.r  and  .re,uen,lv  w  :  i';.  '  ^^  ^^^  !  r'"  '  ""^"^'"-  ""  "'« 
yellowish  at  base;   l..,^s  pale-reddi'sh;  iris  brow^  '  ''«''t-brown,  paler  aud 

'"tal  leu-th,  about  eleven  inehes;  winir   five  n,„l  „ 

*''' -;:^'2;rs:::rr^^^^^^^  "'■ '''' ""  ^ 

rpilK  Woodcock  is  a  common  summer  i.l.abita.it  of  the 
J-  three  sotitheni  New-Enghmd  States,  and  is  not  ra  e  .! 
most  secfons  of  the  otiters.  It  is  one  of'  the  ear  t"  our 
spnn.  arrivals  ;  appearing  hy  the  lOtIt  of  March,  and  In" 
uues  much  earher,  even  before  the  25th  of  F Inry 
When  It  first  arrives,  it  is  partially  j-re-nrious  •  h.i.  f  ^i 
in  small  companies  of  four  or  L  t  C   '  ?     ""^ 

vn,u      Tf  f  .1  '    "  ''"*^  ^'"oa  of  a  few 

ods.  It  ftcptents  low  swampy  woods  and  thickets  at  thil 
season,  where,  during  the  day,  it  remains  concealed  o  1 
moving  about,  in  its  search  lb-  foo.l,  in  the  ni-l.t         '        ^ 

It  begins  its  nocturnal  rambles  by  early  twili-b't  nn,i      i 
.■oti,™  to  its  s.a,„p  at  .,ay,..„aL    L  woC    ,"    't    "o  ."  f 
.g.  n,  to  ,>o,gl,l.„,-l,.„Kl  of  a  swamp,  or  low  ..-ct  o    ™ 
0  »„n,ot„„,..s  l,ea,.  two  or  tluco  iudivid.ab  moving  al.U 
.  .  tl,o  u,„lo,.g,-owll,,  uttering  tl.oir  note,  M,),-^,,.,  l/^. 
M,,  son,ct,„,os  varying  it  to  U»u  or  l,kat  „   i,,,,  ZZ 
«co  tl,c,,,,  agaM,»t  tl,o  evening  sky,  flying  rapidly  ,r„     'one 
swan,p  to  another.     Abont  tl,o  lirst  week  in  Ipril    a 
-para  n,g  n,to  pa.rs,  the  Woodeoeks  begin  their  dnie    of 
...    ha  , on:    he  le.nale  .sc-atehes  together  a  few  leave    „ 
a  »l,gh    elevat.on  „,  .son.e  tneaUow  or  swan,p,  and  this  lb  m 
h    .,e,t.       have  notiee.l  that  the  loeality  n.ost  often  sel     t  d 

.„  a  sma    bnneh  of  bn„h,.s,  or  small  birehes  or  alde,.s   i 
i.e  uncW  01  a  meadow.    The  eggs  a,-e  three  or  Ibnr  i      ,' 
!..■.■:    .he,r  gronnd-eolor  is   nsnally  a   rieh   erean.y-d 
so,„el,n,e,  w,.h  a  shghtly  olive  tint;  and  they  a,-e  narked' 
".o.e  ..r  less  tluckly,  with  eoarse  and  line  spots  and  blotd   s 


V   I! 


42^ 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


MJfi 


I* 


!   JM 


i  If 


of  two  shades  of  brown,  and  obscure  spots  of  lilac.  Tbey 
are  loss  pyriform  than  the  eggs  of  any  otlier  birds  in  this 
group,  being  often  ahuost  exactly  ovoidal.  They  exhibit 
great  variations  in  size,  some  specimens  from  Bristol  County, 
Massachusetts,  averaging  1.80  by  1.25 ;  and  others,  from 
the  south  and  west,  averaging  only  1.45  by  1.15 ;  others 
from  Western  Massachusetts  average  about  1.50  by  1.20, 
being  nearly  rounded;  and  one  from  J.  P.  Norris,  found 
in  Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  is  abruptly  pyriform,  being 
in  dimensions  1.45  by  1.20  inch. 

Both  birds  assist  in  incubation ;  and  tliey  are  so  unwilling 
to  leave  the  nest  at  tliis  time,  that  I  have  known  of  an  ox- 
team  being  driven  within  a  foot  of  a  bird,  without  starting 
her  from  the  nest.  The  food  of  the  Woodcock  consists  of 
worms  and  animalcula^,  which  it  secures  by  thrusting  its  bill 
into  the  soft  earth,  and  beneath  the  dead  leaves  and  grass 
in  swamps  and  other  wet  places. 

The  tongue  of  the  bird  is  coated  with  a  thick  saliva ;  and 
the  worms  sticking  to  it  are  drawn  out  and  devoured.  The 
holes  where  the  bill  is  thus  thrust  in  the  earth  are  called, 
by  gunners,  "  borings ; "  and  the  presence  of  the  bird  is 
detected  by  them,  as  none  of  our  wood-birds  make  any  simi- 
lar. The  old  bird,  if  shot  in  the  summer,  when  she  has 
young,  often  has  her  mouth  full  of  small  worms ;  and  this 
proves  that  she  feeds  her  chicks  until  they  are  nearly  full 
grown.  The  flight  of  the  Woodcock  is  rapid,  and  always  is 
accompanied  by  a  sharp  twitter.  When  the  bird  is  flushed, 
it  ascends  quickly  to  the  height  of  the  trees ;  and,  after 
hovering  a  few  seconds,  it  alights  on  the  ground,  within  a 
few  rods  of  the  point  from  which  it  first  flew. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  and  during  the  montli  of 
August,  while  the  birds  are  moulting,  they  retire  to  the 
most  secluded  localities  ;  and  it  is  difficult  to  find  them 
at  that  Reason.  In  September,  during  the  continuance  of 
dry  weather,  they  frecpient  cornfields  and  ditcihes ;  and  I 
have  seen  them  searching  for  worms  in  the  mud  in  a  sink- 


\^m 


WILSON'S  SNIPE. 


429 


spout,  witliin  a  few  yards  of  a  house      A  f  fl.n  Uu 

and  1  kuow  of  no  more  excitinj?  snort  lud  nno  +i    i  ' 


!       I<7 


GALLINAGO,  Leach. 

Gallinago,  "Leach,  Catal.  British  Birds  (1816)  •-    r™       ,-r 
wyw,  L.)  TUB  (i»iO).       Gray.     (Type   &«/()paa; 

Lower  portion  of  ti.e  tibia  bare  of  feathers  ^cuMUt.  i.  r 
lated  laterally  like  the  tarsi;  nail  of  hln     t  :T  "  '"'^  '^'''""'1'  '•«»i'^"- 

l^ni^c.  at  the  tip;  n.i..,e  toe  Li^;  ^ l^ i  ^1^^::^':^- 

GALLINAGO  WILSONII.  -  i?^^^;,^^^. 
The  Snipe;  Wilson's  Snipe;  English  Snipe. 
Scohpnx  Wihonii,  Nuftall.     Jim     Tr    is^:;      t     i    r^ 
V.(1839,5H3.     /i.,nin.sAn.er.,V   (;842)3t;'.  '''■"'  ''"^■' "^^  ^^''^^^^^S, 

Gulhmujn  Wihmii,  Honaparte.     List  (1838) 

ScW.,.,.  ,jnmn.,jo^  Wil,.„.    An,.  Orn.,  VI. "(1812)  18.    Not  of  Linn.u.. 

Description. 

v.llowi.h-brown    or  aslu  white       ..t"^,      ""     ''"'^''-^  •^''""-"'^  ^^'^''  H^l.t-ru  oL, 
n.rk  before,  dull  reddish-ash v   win /ft".     '  i,''.  f ''' '''""'''  """'•>•  ""^l 

;.;..r.nderpart.whi.,wi,h...:r;;;;;::;z-^^^ 

hnKht-rufous,  paler  at  the  tip.  and  with  ■,  s„|,i,       ,?  ^       '''-'  "'''"'''  ^^''''^ 

.h,..r,en.h:,n,n.rown,ye,lowi.hatbase,anddarker::^^^ 

.i.r  ::r;;:r;i;2:;;;;e:r ::;-;  iS^-  "^'  ^"'■'  -^  - » --- 

/M.-Knt,re  ten.perate  regions  of  North  Amenca;  California  (Mr.  Szabo). 

The  Snipe  is  equally  well  known,  and  as  great  a  favorite 
with  sportsmen,  as  the  preceding  species.     It  arrives  from 


!   fi 


430 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


\:iu\ 


the  South  at  about  the  same  time,  and  has  many  of  the 
liabits  and  characteristics  of  the  other  bird.  It  is  found 
in  New  England  only  as  a  spring  and  autumn  visitor, 
very  rarely  breeding  here,  but  passing  the  season  of  incuba- 
tion in  higher  latitudes.  It  frequents  the  fresh-water 
meadows,  where  it  usually  lies  concealed  during  the  day, 
only  moving  about  in  dark  weather  and  in  the  night.  In 
the  spring,  while  with  us,  it  appears  to  be  pairing ;  and, 
although  associating  in  small  detached  flocks,  they  are  most 
often  found  in  pairs  by  themselves.  It  is  during  this 
season  that  the  male  performs  his  well-known  gyrations  in 
the  air :  he  ascends  to  a  cousideral)le  height,  early  in  the 
evening,  and,  almost  in  the  manner  of  the  Night-hawk, 
described  on  a  preceding  page,  dives  towards  the  earth, 
uttering  his  l)leating  cry,  and  peculiar  rumbling  sound. 
This  species  breeds  sometimes  in  the  northern  portions  of 
New  England.  It  forms  a  loose  nest  of  grass  and  a  few 
leaves,  on  the  ground,  in  a  bog  or  wet  s»vampy  thicket ; 
and,  about  the  first  week  in  May,  the  female  lays  three  or 
four  eggs.  Tliese  are  more  pyriform  in  shape  than  the  pre- 
ceding, and  average  about  1.44  by  1.15  inch  in  dimensions. 
Tlieir  color  is  an  olivaceous-drab,  marked  with  spots  of 
brown,  which  are,  at  the  greater  end,  confluent  into  blotches, 
which  almost  entirely  hide  the  ground-color. 

The  Snipe  has  been  known  to  breed  in  ]\[assachusetts ; 
but  the  occurrence  is  very  rare,  and  can  be  regarded  only 
as  accidental.  By  tlio  25th  of  August,  it  returns  to  the 
meadows  of  New  England  in  small  parties  of  three  or  four; 
but  it  is  not  abundant  much  before  the  10th  or  15th  of  Sep- 
tember, and  then  is  not  fonnd  in  great  numbers,  unless 
we  have  had  two  or  three  sharp  frosts.  The  time  when 
sportsmen  most  expect  to  find  them  in  numbers  is  after  a 
north-easterly  storm,  when  the  wind  veers  around  to  the 
south-westward.  Then  the  meadows  are  himted  diligently, 
and  generally  with  success.  I  have  bagged  twenty-four 
birds  in  an  afternoon's  shooting,  within  ten  miles  of  Boston, 


nany  of  the 
It  is  I'oiind 

iimu  visitor, 

n  of  iiicuba- 
fresh-watcr 

ing  the  day, 

0  night.  Ill 
airing ;  and, 
hey  are  most 

during  this 
gyrations  in 
early  in  the 
Night-hawk, 
5  the  earth, 
bling  sound. 
L  portions  of 
s  and  a  few 
npy  thicket ; 
lays  three  or 
than  the  prc- 

1  dimensions, 
^itli  spots  of 
into  blotches, 

issachusetts ; 
egarded  only 
iturns  to  the 
;hree  or  four; 
15th  of  Sep- 
iibers,  unless 
ic  time  when 
irs  is  after  a 
round  to  the 
ed  diligently, 
I  twcnty-foiu' 
les  of  Boston, 


a  I,  - 


!::•■> 


hi  '\   ,|i 


li'  * 


]  ''^iM 


I  ii^ 


f'; 


t*,      !• 


i    1 

■hi 


i':    .N(  iV    l.ugianU    uiily    um    ;» 


asf^Ap 


•I  , 


(loscribi 


Hi!*  well-known 


„,i,l.,j.,.va  ,   1 


,,,1 


;U.„   SuiuCUiil- 


III,  .-•I 
or  '»' 


mn 


It   ! 

tnn 


Ill 


1     ^ 


f'  '•■ 


wilson'8  snipe. 


431 


and  liavo  known  that  nun.l.er  t.,  l,o  cxcoodod  in  favorable 
weatLer  Tl.o  Snipo  lies  close  to  the  gron.ul  wl.cn  a,, 
proached  ;  and,  being  a  bird  of  strong  sc.mt,  as  the  expres- 
sion 18,  18  winded  to  a  considerable  distance  by  a  good  dog 
It  IS  easy  to  imagine  the  excitement  the  sportsman  export 
onces,  when,  with  a  good  dog,-  he  enters  a  large  meadow 
and  sees  him  suddenly  com,,  to  a  point ;  when,  walking  xu] 
to  the  Snipo,  and  flnshing  it,  the  report  of  his  gun,  as  ho 
shoots  tho  bird,  startles  from  their  lurking-places  perhaps 
a  dozen  others,  who  fly  but  a  short  distance,  utterin-  their 
peculiar  sipieak  or  scaip,  and  then  alight  in  the  grass,''prom- 
ising  him  an  al)undance  of  shooting  for  the  day. 

The  Snipo,  when  first  flushed,  rapidly  donhles  and  twists 
in  a  quick,  zigzag  flight,  which  it  continues  for  several  rods, 
when  it  takes  a  more  direct  course,  almost  always  against 
tho  wind.  The  sportsman,  knowing  this  hal)it  of  the°bird 
reserves  his  Are  until  it  has  stopped  twistin-,  when  his  aim' 
is  generally  successful.  Sometimes  two  birds  rise  at  tho 
same  time,  when  it  requires  considerable  coolness  and  expe- 
rience to  secure  both.  I  once  got  three  d.mble  shots  in 
succession,  securing  all  six  birds:  but  such  an  occurrence 
and  good  luck  are  rare;  and  wo  must  be  satisfied,  in  most 
shooting,  to  get  but  single  birds. 

The  Snipe,  like  tho  Woodcock,  probes  in  the  soft  earth 
for  worms  and  animalcules,  which  it  feeds  upon:  it  also 
eats  the  larva;  of  water-insects,  and  leeches,  and  occa- 
sionally captures  grasshoppers  and  other  insects  in  the  wet 
grass  in  which  it  almost  entirely  resides.  It  is  very  diffi- 
cult of  api)roacli  in  cloudy  and  windy  weather;  but,  in 
warm,  bright  days  in  the  fall,  it  is  quiet,  and  lies  until 
approached  quite  near.  It  remains  with  us  until  the 
ground  is  frozen  in  the  meadow,  when  it  moves  to  the 
Southern  States,  where  it  passes  the  winter. 


'*    1;!) 


432 


0UMT1I0L0(3Y   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family   IlyEMATOPODII).!:.    The  OvsTEn-CATCiiKits. 

Hill   ns   lonj;  ns   tlio   li.-nd,   or  twice  ns   lnn>^,  ooinprfHscd  j   cujini'n  hut   liifjo 
Indeiitwl,  and  the  liill  not  vmiltod  bt-yond  the  imstrils,  wliiili  nru  ([iiuu  biisal. 


IL'F:MAT0PUS,  Linnkuh. 

If(rm,it,>fm!i,  T.inn.ki's,  Synt.  Nnt.  (nafi).  (Type  //.  Otlnthijm,  L.) 
Hill  loiiKtT  fhiiii  till)  ifg,  twic(!  n»  loii^f  118  the  tiPiid;  miindililcs  iniicli  cnmprosscd, 
«harp-edKf<i,  luid  tnmrate  at  end;  hind  toe  wiintin),';  lej,'s  reticuliiled,  with  live  or 
six  .'lonKiifed  pliites  111  11  trmisverse  (.erieni  meshes  larger  iinteriorly  ;  ii  Imsal  mem- 
hiiuio  between  nmldle  and  outer  toes;  toes  enlarged  laterally  by  a  thiekened 
membrane;   tail  even;   (irst  primary  Kinj^ent, 


HiEMATOPUS  PALLIATUS.-T-emm. 

The  Oyster-catcher. 

Uitmntopiii  pnllintUB,  Tcmm.  Man.,  II.  (1820)  532.  And.  Orn.  DIol'  III 
(1836)  181;   V.  580.     Jb.,  Hirds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  230.  ' 

I/iemdtojms  oslrulnjui,  Wiinon.    Am.  Om.,  VIII.  (1811)  15. 

Dk.SCIUI'TION. 

nil!  lonff,  straiKht,  flattened  vertically;  wing  long;  tail  short;  Ie>,'s  moderate, 
rather  ri>l)ust;  toes  inartiined;  outer  and  miiblle  united  at  base;  head  and  neck 
brownisli-blaek,  with  a  sli^lit  ashy  tiiiKe  in  very  mature  specimens;  upper  parts  of 
body  liKht  ashy-brown,  rather  darker  on  the  riiiiip;  upper  tail  coverts  and  wide 
diagonal  Imiid  across  the  win^  white:  quills  brownish-black;  tail  lei.thers  at  hnse 
white,  with  their  fenninatinB  half  lirownisli-black ;  under  parts  of  body  ami  ,„„i,,r 
wins  coverts  white;  bill  and  edge  of  eyelids  bright  orange-red;  legs  pale-reildish; 
iris  bright-yellow. 

Total  length,  about  seventeen  and  a  halfimhes;  wing,  ten;  tail,  four  and  a  liait"; 
bill  to  gape,  three  and  a  half;  tarsus,  two  and  a  (punier  inches. 

THIS  l)inl  is  of  rare  occurrence  on  the  scacoa.st  of  Xe\r 
Eiioiand  as  a  summer  visitor,  I  am  not  aware  tliat  it 
broods  liere;  but  it  may,  as  it  is  said  to  bo  found  all  along 
our  coast  from  Maine  to  Florida.  Wilson,  in  describing  its 
habits,  says,  — 

"The  Oyster-catcher  frequents  the  sandy  sea-})oach  of  New 
Jersey,  and  other  parts  of  our  Atlantic  coast,  in  summer,  ii;  small 
parties  of  two  or  three  pairs  together.     They  are  extremely  shy ; 


CATCIIKIIS. 

iilincn  hut   liitio 
)  (|iiuu  buxal. 


3rn.  niog.,  Iir. 


legs  moderate, 
head  and  neck 
;  tipper  parts  (if 
'•erts  and  wido 
fei.tliers  at  base 
liody  and  under 
gs  pale-reddish ; 


THR  OYSTEB-CATCHEH. 


an.l,  oxcopt  nhout  tlio  sonson 


Non  to 


'PI»'<"i<Ii  widiii.  «m,s|i„t.     'I'l 


"f  I)r(>o.]i„;,,  will  HoM, 


Wiltclin,!.    stately    lutu 


W<'«l,i,'('.|ik(.   bill 


""''■i  'It   tiiiirs   pn.l 


"V  walk  aloi, 


433 

»in  permit  a  p,.p. 


K  "Hi  shore  in  u 


':  .'"  "•'"'•'•''  of  small  slH.i!.(i,|" 


'"'.i^'  it  with   (|„.ir  I 


,"/'  ""  "•^'"'"■"i..-    tin,   hani  sa,.,| 

wIllHl    an.     fniMMl     (|,i,.kly    p,.,f, 
tlirc!    ill, •lies    i„    ,|,,|,,|,_      'j^i 
Idimnv   ill    th,,  ,„|„| 


T 


miL' 


'«< 


■»    Wlicif     ill 


iii«  appears  ov|. 


tl 


•'■'•"'■'I    witl.    „|,|„„i,   |,„, 


T  usually  roHort 


«'    Ninall    eral 


|»i-cy    of   tlio    ()yst,.,-cat..| 
ul 


It  tilt)  bottom  of  ini 


'«,    ealle,!    tii|,|| 


two 


or 


ei'M. 


'K'l-;    as    ar 


'■'h,  ar(f  f 


thai 


lUlisc 


''<''|iieiitiv   II 


-;;;.;-.......  .M,..,,,.,,,u.H,,..j;;-:|::-^^^ 


'L'li  those  si 


lie 


a 


The    ()y 


lore.s 


wounded,  hut  can  nl 


ster-eatehiM-   \vi|| 


Hot   on 


ly  tak 


0   to   the 


from  my  own  ohservafion,  tl 


«>_«wim  and  diy,.  „.,.II.     This  f 


water  u| 


haviii'f 


not  tar  from  a  di 


nearly  cost  uio  my  lif 


'"'  <'.\/tloitH  of  Olio  of   tl 


net    I 


leil 
'■an  assert 


''•.     On   tl 


"""  i'l  this  w 


!iy 


tlieso 
th. 


'ep  und 


'"'••Is  and.  heiiiir  wi,|,o,a  a  d 


'I'i'l  '"l<'t,  I   l.roke  tl 


":  '""■'""••"•''  '>f  Capo  May, 

llloke    fho   willfr    ni'  ,...„    .  I. 


|.l..t 


Hi  iieai 


•ly  at  tl 


■""■•'  It  made  for  with 


'!-i'  '"slantly  j„„.s,„,,|   j^ 


^viiifc'  of  one  „f 


"''■'"  '•'I'Mi'.v.      We  ho,h  „| 


Hiiiik  heyond  my  deptl 
lected  hav 


'"  «amo  instant ;  hut  the  bird  elml 


■ptii:  It  w 
iiif?  earried  in  niv 


(I 


towards 
|>hin;;(.d 


my  .i,'rasp.  and  I 


''^  ""t  niitil  this  moment  that  1 


surfaee.  I  fo„„d  ,|u,  bird  had  d 
<'iii-i'yiii,i,'  mo  fast  towards  th 
all  my  sliootinjr  apparatus.     J 
and  to  make  lor  the  si 


i-nin  jiloi,,,  „.ifli 


ived.  and 


me.     On  , 


a  stroijir  ,,1,1 


•'  owan,  eneiimben.,!  witi 


reeol- 

'isin<r  to  (li,, 

'»  eiir.'cnt  wa.s 


Was  CI 


>"11H-Iled  to  reliiiMinVi 


fl    a    ^r,|,|     ,„„j 


total 


I'ii'd  afterward 


destrnet:oiiof,|„.  contents  of 


'">••'  with  considerable  niortili 


'•ose,  and  swam  witI 


"ly  powdei-li( 


■li'iMi  my  bird, 
i^'iition.  and  the 


>rn. 


Tl 


ireat  I 


Tilt)  0,1-us  of  thi.s  hinl  ... 
colof,  with  luiimM'oiis  l.lotcl 
Tlu.ir  ( 


I)Uoy;,ncy. 


'"'  Woiindrcl 


•"^ro  mo.st 


ffoiionillv  :i  ci' 


■oainy-diali 


">'■"»  i-^  ovoidaj  ;  mikI  (]„>{,.  ,| 


^;-;i"<l  spots  of  l,hiekish-!,,own 


<•>  2.1-2  inch  ill  lonyd,  l,y  from  1.02 


'"'•'"sioii.s  vary  f,-,„„  o.^JO 


to  1..J0  ill  lireiultl 


STRKPStLAS,  „,,,,,„:,, 


Sh-ljwl,!^,  Il,I,I,;|.;u,  I'n.d 


■/••■"•  ■'-■.•'■iM(,  i-rodromiis  (1811)      cwu     r  ■ 
'I'l-'-  .i"^v  will,  the  e„h„e„  strall,,  ,  i,,,     ,  ^ 'r'"  '""''•/"•'•^  '-) 

""•  ""•'■n..r  Ices;    hiud   l„e   le„.  hene.I     ,   "7. '''"'    I'"""  '   ""  ""'mlMano  hetueen 

•" -'-  '"■"" h:;;:;;;;:--,,;;:  t;:*.:;s.  "—'^ 


.( 


434 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


,    I 


T     1 


The  nnsal  groove  is  very  broad  and  simllow,  obtuse  anteriorly,  and  not  extend- 
ing beyond  tlie  middle  of  tlie  bill;  the  lower  edge  of  upper  jaw  ascends  slightly 
from  the  middle  to  near  the  tip. 

STEEPSILAS  INTERPRES.  — /%cr. 
The  Turnstone, 

Tritif/a  interpres,  Linnceus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (17C6)  248.    Wils.  Am.  Cm.,  VIL 

(161.3)  32. 

Strejmlas  interpres,  iniiif^r.    Prod.  (1811),  2G3.    Nutt.,  IT.  30.    Aud.  Cm.  liiog., 

IV.  (1838)  31.     lb.,  Birds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  231. 

DESCUII'TION. 

Upper  parts  rather  irregularly  variegated  with  black,  dark-rufous,  and  white; 
head  and  neck  above  generally  white,  with  numerous  .-pots  aud  stripes  of  brownisli- 
blaek  on  the  crown  and  occiput;  sjiace  in  front  of  tlie  eye  white,  usually  surnHiudiHl 
with  blav.k;  throat  white,  on  each  side  of  which  is  a  stripe  of  black  running  from 
the  base  of  the  bill  downwards  and  joining  a  large  space  of  the  same  color  (black) 
on  the  neck  before  and  breast;  abdomen,  under  wing  coverts,  under  tail  coverts, 
back,  and  rump,  white;  quills  brownish-black,  with  their  shalls  white;  tail  white  at 
base,  with  its  terminal  half  brownish-black,  and  tipped  with  white;  greater  wing 
coverts  widely  tijtped  with  white,  forming  a  conspicuous  oblique  bar  across  the 
wing;  bill  black;  legs  orange;  in  winter,  the  black  of  the  ujiper  parts  is  more 
apparent,  and  the  rufous  is  of  less  extent  and  of  lighter  shade;  iris  hazel. 

Total  length,  about  nine  inches;  wing,  six;  tail,  two  and  a  half  inches. 

//„4._Sliores  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  throughout  North  America.  One  of 
the  most  widely  diffused  of  birds,  being  found  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  world. 

It  is  only  on  the  scacoast,  and  in  very  small  numbers 
even,  that  this  bird  is  found  iu  Now  England  as  a  spring 
aud  summer  visitor.  It  occasionally  is  found  in  comiKuiy 
with  some  of  the  Sandpipers  and  other  beac]i-bi''ds;  but 
usually  appears  alone,  or  in  parties  of  two  or  three,  on  tlie 
beach,  or  on  the  shores  of  sandy  rivers  that  emj.ty  into 
the  ocean,  near  their  outlets.  It  is  almost  always  actively 
cmi>loyed  in  turning  over  the  pel)blcs  aud  small  stones  with 
its  strong,  sharp  bill,  beneath  which  it  finJs  small  niiiiiin^ 
animals  and  eggs,  on  which  it  principally  feeds.  It  also 
eats  greedily,  according  to  Wilson,  on  the  eggs  of  tlie 
Horse-shoe,  or  King  Crab,  and  small  shell-lish,  aud  occa- 
sionally wades  into  the  water  for  a  shrimp  or  other  small 
animal  that  is  left  iu  a  shallow  pool  by  the  retiring  waves. 
It  breeds  on  the  most  northern  sections  of  the  continent, 


I'M 


nd  not  extenil- 
iscends  slightly 


Am.  Orn  ,  VII. 
Lud.  Orn.  Uiog., 


au9,  and  wliitc; 
1CS  of  brown  isli- 
lally  surnniiiili'd 
•k  vunninK  Iroiu 
lie  color  (black) 
der  tail  coverts, 
te;  tail  white  at 
e;  greater  wiiii; 
1  bar  across  tlie 
■r  parts  is  more 
iris  hazel. 

inches, 
inerica.    One  of 

the  world. 


THE   TURNSTONE 

hmlding  Its  nest  in  the  Hudson'.  T!o 
J-o:  this  nest  is  nothing  tt  1  JZ  71^'^'  ''''^  "^ 
i"  the  earth,  and  lined  wkli  n^!      -^      ^'"°^'  '^^'^tched 
weed.     Ti.  egg-s  are  ^X LZ^T  ''  '''''  ''  -- 
color,  sometimes  a  drab-  and    1        '^'^^{^^eof  an  olive 
blotches  of  reddish  and  Li:  ^  2r':7'''  '''''  ^"^ 
where  they  are  confluent,  and   nearlv  1         ^'T'  ^"^^' 
the  ground-color.     Their  forni  if     ^    ?    '  '"^   «""««^1 
their  dimensions  aver:;;  :;;:/l^';;P^'[  17^^^^^^ 
It  IS  rarely  that  wo  fnul  f«r,.         •      ^  "^^h. 

from  almost  entirely  gray  on   tlioJ.  varieties, 

pliunage  described  above.  "^'^'''  ^'^'^''   ^o  the 


*  : 

1"       I  I 


486 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Family  RECURVIROSTRIDiE.     Tiik  Avosets. 

Legs  covered  with  hexagonal  iiliitos,  becoming  smaller  behind;  anterioi  toes  all 
connected  more  or  less  by  membrane;  bill  much  lengthened  and  attenuated;  the 
groove  along  the  side  of  the  ujiper  mandible  not  extending  bejond  the  middle; 
gums  denticulated  only  at  the  base. 

In  addition  to  tlie  features  above  mentioned,  these  birds  are  essentially  eliarae- 
terized  by  the  excessive  length  of  the  legs,  with  a  very  long,  slender  neck  and  slen- 
der elongated  bill.  Of  the  several  genera  assigned  the  family,  but  two  belong  to 
the  United  States,  with  the  following  features:  — 

Ri:cuiiVli!osTi!A  —Hind  toe  present;  toes  webbed  to  the  claws;  bill  recurved 

at  tip. 

IliMANTorus.  — Hind  toe  wanting;  a  short  web  between  middle  and  outer  toes 

at  base;  bill  straight. 

KECU  R VIllO  STRA,  Lisn.hus. 

Jiccnirlrosfrn,  Linn-kus,  Syst.  Nat.  (1744).     Gray.    (Typo  E.  avocetin,  L.) 
Hind  toe  rudimentary;  anterior  toes  united  to  the  claws  by  a  much  emarginateil 

membrane;    hill  depressed,  extended  into   a   tine  point,  which   is   recurved;    tail 

covered  by  the  wings. 

RECDRVIROSTRA  AMERICANA.  —  Gmelin. 

The  American  Avoset. 

Recnrvh-nMrn  Ammvnnn,  (Jnielin.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (IVHS)  G9.3.  Wils.  Am.  Orn., 
VH.  (18i;i)  TJG.  Nutt.  Man.,  H.  78.  And.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (183S)  168.  74.,  Birds 
Am.,  VI.  (1H4.3)  247. 

Dl-.SCUll'TIO.V. 

Bill  rather  long,  depre.'^sed;  wings  long;  legs  long;  tarsi  compressed:  tail  .-liort. 

^l,/»/(._lh..ad  and  neck  pale  reddish-brown,  darker  on  the  head,  and  fading 
gradually  into  whit.';  back,  wing  coverts,  and  quills,  black;  seai)ulars,  tips  of 
greater  wing  cov.Tts,  rump  an<l  tail,  and  entire  under  part.s,  white,  the  last  frequently 
tinged  with  reddish  ;  bill  bro\vni^h-blal•k  :  legs  hluish. 

>'y„„,y._  Very  similar  to  the  adult,  but  with  the  head  and  neck  white,  fni  i.nily 
tinged  with  ashy  on  the  head  and  neck  behind;  iris  e;n-niine. 

Total  length",  abdiit  sev.Miteen  inches;  wing,  eight  and  a  half  to  nine;  tail,  three 
and  a  half;  hill  to  gape,  three  and  thrce-.iuurters;  tarsus,  three  and  a  half  inches. 

THIS  bird  is  a  rare  smniner  visitor  in  New  Knulainl. 
I  am  unacquainted  with  its  hal)its,  having  never  met 
with  one  alive ;  and  I  must  avail  myself  of  the  observations 
of  others.     Wilson  says,  — 


THE   AMERICAN   AV9SET. 


437 


L  white,  iVi'iiii'iUly 


"  In  describing  the  Lonir-Ieo-irca  A vn«Pf  fi,.    •    -i    •     , 

"f  Mu,.     Tl,e,  ,vo,.e  ,ho„  Woo,,!  ^  I  ,.h      ,*:Tf' nV        """ 
species  were  few  in  respeet  to  ,|,e  „t|,e,      t  "/  '"?'"" 

".  n,e  water  ,„disori„,i„a,ely ;  ,,„,,eri„„  ,,,,,.,„  J,  „i,,;\,™;*" 
.ng  then-  l,a  ,  ben.  leg.,  as  if  ,,,„l.v  ,„  ,„n,l,l„  „,,,.  ,:;  p      t  J 

.>.     -iJic  iitst  ^\as  built  aniono'  t  lo  1 1  ck-  tnffa  nf 
grass  a.  a  sn„Ul  „i*,„..e  f,,„,  „„,  „f  ,„„,^    "  .,    "l 

l»se.l  of  small  .wig,  of  a  seasi,Ie  sl,n,b,  dry  L„   ,    '  "e'l    7' 

™se,, .0 .i,„ i,..i„„. „f .„,„,., „„„,.  'Tilfg,;  '■*":; 

;v:;i::;^:::r;.;;;r,::;: ^" -*-'*'.-^^i-X:; 

"This  species  arrives  on  the  coast  of  Cape  May  late  in  Anril 
r.u;s  >ts  voun,  an.1  departs  a,ain  to  the  4th  earlv  L  oi^^' 
^^.le  1--.  .t  ahnost  constantly  fre.p.ents  the  shallow  pools  i  .  t  1: 
salt  marshes  ;  wa.hng  about,  often  to  the  bellv,  in  seanl.  of  fool  _ 
V.Z.,  „w,ne  worrns,  snails,  and  various  insects  that  abound  an,;n. 
the  soft,  nuiddy  bottoms  of  the  pools."  ^ 

Auclul.0.1,  wlto  found  it  hrcoding  in  tlio  noighl^orliood  of 
\niconnos  m  the  State  of  Indiana,  dcscrihcs  the  nest  and 
eggs  as  follows  :  — 

;-Tho  nests  were  placed  among  the  tallest  grasses,  and  were 
ent„.ely  composed  of  the  same  nuterials,  but  dried,  and  appnren  ly 
ot  a  former  year's  growth.  There  was  not  a  twi-.  of  L  lid 
;:•''>-';;-/''-..■  nn.or  nest  was  about  five  inches  i;d:lZ^^^^^^ 

.     .ho  pond   and  about  two  inches  in  depth,  over  a  bed  havin.  a 

iHckness  of  an   n,ch  and  a  half.     The  islets  did  not  seem  to^,e 

Imble  to  nnnulation  ;  and  none  of  the  nests  exhibited  anv  appearance 

ot  havn.g  been  increased  in  elevation  since  the  eonnn'enc en.ent  of 


lil 


'.W.      I 


-  M 


.  l-L: 


438 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOOY. 


'I 
J! 


H     11 


il' 


!fi' 


tUfi 


u 


i'Jf 


incubation,  as  was  the  case  with  those  tlcscribcd  by  Wilson.  Like 
those  of  most  Waders,  the  eggs  were  four  in  number,  and  phiced 
witli  the  small  ends  together.  They  measured  two  inches  in  length, 
one  inch  and  three-eighths  in  their  greatest  breadth,  and  were 
exactly,  as  Wilson  tells  us,  *  of  a  dull-olive  color,'  &c.  To  this  I 
have  to  add  that  they  are  pear-shaped  and  smooth." 

MACROIillAMPIIUS,  Leacii. 

^fac>•orhamJ>hlls,  "  Lkac.u,  Cata.\.  Brit.  Uirds,  1810."  Gray.  {ScoIojmx  griscn.) 
Gmelin. 

General  appearaiifo  of  G(il!Iii(t(/n.  Tarsi  lonj^er  tliaii  middle  toe;  a  short  web 
between  tiie  base  of  outer  and  middle  toe. 

Tile  meml)ranc  at  the  base  of  tiio  toes  will  at  once  distinguish  this  genus  from 
Gallinnijo,  though  there  are  other  characters  involved. 

MACROEHAMPHUS  GEISEUS.  — (Gm.)  Leach. 

The  Red-breasted  Snipe ;  Gray  Snipe. 

Scohpax  rjrisen,  Gmelin.    Syst.  Xat.,  I.  (17HR)  6r,R,  Xo.  27. 
Sciih'piix  Xonliiinu-('ns!s,  M'ilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VII.  (IKIS)  45.    Aud.  Cm.  Biog., 
IV.  (1S3.S)  285.    lb.,  Hirds  Anier.,  VI.  (18-13)  10. 

Deschii'Tiox. 

Bill  long,  compressed,  flattened,  and  expanded  towards  the  end,  and,  in  the  same 
space,  punctulatecl  and  corrugated;  wing  rather  long;  shall  of  first  primary  strong; 
tail  short;  legs  rather  long. 

Adult.  —  rpper  ))arts  variegated  with  dark -ashy,  iiale-reddisli,  and  black,  the  lat- 
ter predominating  on  the  back;  rump  and  upper  tail  coverts  white,  the  latter 
spotted  and  barred  transversely  with  black;  uiuler  parts  pale  ferruginous-red,  with 
numerous  puiiits  and  circular  spots  of  brownish-black  on  the  neck  before,  and 
transverse  bands  of  the  same  on  the  sides  and  under  tail  coverts;  axillary  feathers 
and  uiiiler  wing  coverts  white,  spotted  and  transversely  barred  with  lihick;  rpiilis 
brownish-black;  shaft  of  lirst  primary  white;  tail  brownish-black,  with  numerous 
transverse  Viands  of  ashy-wl\ite,  and  frequently  tinged  with  ferniginons.  es|i(.'cially 
on  the  two  middle  fe.ithers;   bill  greeiiish-blaek ;   legs  dark  greenish-brown. 

Yiinmier.  —  I'.ntiri'  under  jiarts  dull-white,  strongly  marked  with  dull-ashy  on 
the  neck  in  front,  and  transverse  bamis  of  the  same  on  the  sides;  axillary  fcatliers 
and  under  wing  coverts  white,  spotted  with  brownish-black;  upper  parts  lighter 
than  in  the  adult. 

Tntal  leniith,  about  fen  inches;  wing,  live  ami  three-quarters;  tail,  two  and  a 
quarter;  bill,  two  and  a  ipuirter;  tarsus,  one  and  a  ipiarter  inch. 

Ilab.  —  Kniire  temperate  regions  of  North  America. 

Tills  liandsonio  bird  is  found  in  small  numbers  in  the 
marshes  along  our  coast,  in  the  spring  and  autumn  migra- 


THE   RED-BREASTED   SNIPE. 


489 


tail,  tw(i  and  a 


"H.e,.  i,  „„vo,.  ,oou  the  0    r  ,.!,    '    "T  °"'   "'"'^  "'° 
i«  "ovor  found  u,  such  „,'„„,,         „  7aX:™°  8"»-     " 

".  ti.o  f.,.,„wi„g jo,c,.i„«ou,  ..„t  i  sec.  :,rr",°' 

of  SIX  or  eiglit : "  'Juuclios 

"  Tl.o  Re,].l.roa.ste.l  Sr.ipe  arrives  on  the  se-vcoast  of  V       t 
^ey  early  i,»  April,  is  sel.Iom  or  i.ever  see,,  i.  I  n  T        \        "  '^''^ 
^  pee.s  to  tl.e  Nor,,,  to  l.ree.l,  J ^::t^:t:^:::^'j 
July  or  bogiMii  n<;  of  Aii.nist       I1„..i.       ■,  '  '"  "' 

«o.k,.»„„,,.,i,„™;,,,,,;f  •,,,»'•  "■"  ■»  «;"y  i-ci.  tii.,  i„ 

n^aking  ,„,,,„.  cv„l,„ion,:  ':.:;'.'".'"'  ™"  «''""  "Little; 

-nniUng.     Tl,„y  ,,„.„e.i„„,  «„  ,0"^      ,'    lir.'A'  ""f "«' ,»"" 
togMlier,  ,l,„t  ei..l,ly.fivo  l,,,ve  !„.„„  ,l,„t      „  r'  "  '■'"" 

S.-..crally  r!«„..  I,i,,|,,  ;„„, fci„„  ,„.c,.,l  cLm  °  "'""""' 

tl.f  »ir  l,ofo,-.  ,1,,.,  ,|„,,,„|      T1,T.,  f  ,  ma-muvro,  in 

» boa.  ,i,a„  of  „  p„„„„  „/i,,t;.,:'';;;™'" '"■'■''';'"=«»  "f 

•"■■""":•  -'  *'■'  ■"•"■ groat «;.:  ,.■'^''■1, .'';:::  ;:V"  "r 

"I  hiiv(!  fre(niently  amused  m -solf  ,v;.i,  *i 
tl.ese  birds      Tl  ,.v  </      "'«P"  /» -^t 't  ^Mtl,  the  various  action  of 

-o-n;a!.:;;2::^;:':'rr;:rr'"r-""""- 

;':t;"«--i « ■«„. ::-:;t;;;;*r°;!^^ 

I.ii"l  of  q,„vor,„g  wl,i,<,l,..     A„,„„g  „,a„v  ,vl,i,.|,  I  „,„. ,,,,;, 
l.a.-ks  wei-o  also  „„„.|,   ligl,!,.,..  a„,l   I,..,   „,,H,|,.,1  „,■,!.  f 

fH™;-:  .■'■'■'■'- '-..-i:..^ «:,:;:  ;;;^,: 

sliells  that  l.«  ,n  millions  on  the  salt  m-.rsl,,..      Tl         • 

i"»-f .!.« i„n,  a,.„  .,.„  ro.  b™:;:;:':.;,,,: :::  r;',;:;: 


"I. 


li, 


i  ll 


■I'   ■ 


440 


ORNITIIOLOr.Y   AND    OOLO(n'. 


Of  the  brccdiiijij  habits,  nest,  and  eggs  of  this  species,  T 
am  ignorant ;  and  I  find  no  description  of  either  in  any 
work  to  which  I  liavc  access. 


Tn'Iie  Tniffc.v.JE.  —  T/ie  Sand/irpn-s. 

Kill  slicirtcr  llian  the  iiakcd  IcR,  uidciUMl  or  riidicr  spfinn-sliiipcd  at  tlifl  ond,  with 
the  edf^es  not  H'lit  over;  roof  of  mniilh  cxcavatcMl  to  the  tip;  no  groove  along  the 
ciilmon;  ear  b-jhind  tliu  eye;  tail  wiliiout  bands? 


TRINOA,  T.iNN.Kiis. 
Tniif/n,  LlXN.F.rs.     Syst.  Xat  ,  (IT-ir.).     (Type  7'.  c/tiiiiliis,  L.) 

r)r;s(iiii'Tii>N. 

Size  inodcrnto  or  ?mnll;  iri'ni'ral  form  ni'iaptcd  to  dwclliiiix  on  the  shores  of  both 
salt  and  Iresli  wa'crs,  and  subsisting  on  niiniilc  or  small  animals,  in  pursuit  of 
wliiih  they  carefully  examine  and  probe  with  their  bills  saiuly  or  mnddy  deposits 
and  growths  of  a(piatie  plants,  roeks.  or  other  localities;  flight  rather  rapid,  bnt 
not  very  strong  nor  long  continued;  bill  moderate,  or  rather  long,  straight  or 
slightly  curveil  towards  tlie  end.  which  is  gcni'rally  sonu'what  exji  inded  and  Hat : 
Inngituilimil  grooves,  in  bntli  mandibles,  distinct,  and  nearly  the  whole  length  of  the 
bill;  wings  long,  pointed;  the  lirst  prinniry  longest;  fertiaries  long;  seeoudaries 
short,  with  their  tips  obliipiely  incised;  tail  short:  legs  nmderate.  or  rather  long, 
slendi'r;  the  lower  portion  of  the  tibia  naked,  and  with  the  tarsus  covered  in  front 
and  behind  with  transverse  scales;  hind  toe  very  small :  fore  toes  rather  slender, 
with  a  membranous  margin,  scaly  and  flattenccl  nnderneath.  free  at  base. 

This  genus  comprises  a  large  ninnber  of  species  of  all  iiarts  of  the  world, 
some  of  which  ail' very  extensively  dill'nse  I,  esjiecially  during  the  season  of  their 
southern  or  autumnal  migration.  (M^nerally,  these  birds  are  met  with  i]>  llocks.  fre- 
ouenting  every  di'siTiiilinii  of  locality  near  water,  and  imlustriously  searching  for 
the  minute  animals  (Ui  which  they  Iced.  The  spe<ies  of  the  Fniteil  States  are  mi- 
gratorr.  rearing  their  young  in  the  north,  and,  in  autninn  and  winter,  extending  to 
the  confines  of  the  llepublic  and  into  South  America.  The  colors  of  the  spring  and 
jiutunmal  plumage  are  ditlireiit  in  nearly  all  sjiccies,  though  that  of  the  two  sexes  is 
very  similar. 

TRINGA    CANUTD3.  —  T/imuruf. 

The  Gray-back;  Robin  Snipe. 

Tnnrin  rnmilua.  T.inna'us.     Sy-t.  Siii.,  I.  (ITtin)  2'i1. 

Trlm/n  dnercn,  Cmelin.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (178R)  07.3.  AVils.  Am.  Orn.,  \U. 
(1813)  30. 

Trlnfia  i^hiwlirn,  Andub.....  Orn.  l?iog.,  IV.  (1838)  130.  /«.,  Birds  Am.,  V. 
(1S4?.)  2.-)4. 

Tringa  rufa,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  VI[.  (1813)  57. 


iit  llifl  011(1,  with 
jroove  along  the 


p  slinros  (if  Ixith 
lis,  in  piirsiiif  <>( 
iniidily  ili'piisits 
rntlicr  rapiil.  Ipiit 
ionjf,  ptrnifrht  nr 
;ii:iii(lf(|  and  Hal; 

Mile  li'n<,Mll  (il'lhc 

onf;;  scooiularii's 
'.  or  rather  Intif;, 
cnviTcd  in  frdiif 
'S  rather  sh'ndcr, 
liasc. 
rts  (if  tlic  wdrhl, 
e  sen«(in  <if  their 
•ith  in  fidcks.  fre- 
sly  sctirehiiii;  f(ir 
•(1  Slates  arc  mi- 
ller, rxtrndinfT  f" 
nf  the  spring;  and 
f  the  two  sexes  is 


Am.  Orn.,  VII. 
'j.,  Birds  Am.,  V. 


Till':  OUAY-HACK. 


441 


Wi   In'll  »(mi;,rhf.  rather  I, 


i)i 


"SCHIl'TIO.v. 


"'  "'<•  lip;  upper  niandil 

"""''■'■"'■;  til-m  »ilh  its  h, 
•''h(prl;  („,.H  (I.,.,,,,,  I 


dc  with   tl; 


"«"'•  than  the  head. 


iiHsal  ^ 


IIIIHC 


■'  "'"'il  part  nak 


roovi! 


fomprensed,  slif,.h(| 


•'XleiKhpi''  t 


I"  Hear  tl 


entire  iip|„.r  ,,.,r|^  |j^. 
"'"'  """■rs  of  pale-redd 


i  'lattencd  hencath 


'■"»•  hand 
111 


isl 


"y,  with  i.uK 


widely  ni 


late,  I 


'"■'■''  """l.ratu;  winK  h 
■■"•K'ricd;  hind  t(.e  slend 


l.v  erd, 
he  til, 


larf,''ed 


s  and 
P'lhr  in  tho  ii,i,i, 


"!  '■'""Pi'iidnppertail 
'■••--'•'-^li.'-l-d   spotH  of   ld,,,k 


iniear,  ami 


■''0'  leathers. 


!<■  «l'  the  ahd 


and  1111, |, 


laiien;  nnder  tail 


'■"^■'^■■Is  white,  will,,,.,,,, 
""il'T  parts  li..|,(   I 


lars  of  hr(nvni>li-l 


cr  win;,'  ((.vurl.s  w 


'■"Verts,  til 


'•'K;  tail 

I'T,  small; 

■'•'•Kiilar  ,sp(,|M  „)■  1,1,,,,;^^ 

sverse  nar- 
"•<iwiii>h-red, 


"■""•nisli-cinerediiM  (will 


''''"•'^;  <l"ills  hnnvnish-hla.k 


"'li'.  Kenerallv  will 


".";''  "■"""•"•■•<.  flanks,  axil- 


l"'ls  and   tl- 


''"■(■((iieiith-   w 


■III  a 


Kreenlsh-hlack. 


hdlit  spdis 
wcdiid   sulj-ed-iii;,< 


"■"■•^);  all  the  C,,,,,! 


'^■'I'l   their  sliaDs  wl 


iinsvcrse 


III'  daik-l 


'•"wn ; 


icrs  ed;;(.(|  ^^.i| 


"■'•;  lad  li.rlit 


J 


hill 


h  whii 


t'verv  I'eall 


"iiii,/  ,„„/  \\;;,/,r  />/„ 


"■"»iii,sli-M,„.k .    I, 


IIHII, 


'(■r  havin 


Ve.  — Upper  pails  I 


''<•,  uiul 


■K» 


ashy-whito; 
■ly  piir(! 


Ileal 


I'l'  durk-hrow 


■■iiiiip  while,  w 
•'II  the  nhd(jni(.i,,  I 
II  mi  the  I, 


'  ;^i'li-leni.ina|  ed-i,.;r  „t  I 


"•""■nish-ashy,  d„i), 


nil  tl 


innvni 


•'■•'"•'■"Is  of  hiack 


isli-h 


''i";k,  and  ( 


l"T  nn  the  l,,,,.;^ 


'I'l  with  mini 


f^potsof  hr.nvnish  hiaek;  an  ol 


ast  and  ,u;k;  sid, 


"•'■""*' '"'i«itU(linal 


"'"''■r  pails  dull  „sl 


'PI'i^il  with  (lull 


iv-white. 


"I"'  ''■"Kill  (iroin  I 


II  ohseiiiv  liii,.  „|'  iiiiii 


half;  tail,  t\ 


ip  "f  hill  t 


l''S  with 


whit 


li"''s,  and 


'■l-i'sceiit-shaped 


-ni.il 


spots 


""'1  a  lialf;  hill  fr, 


1"  I'lid  of  la 


d).  al 


'■  "vcr  and  h 


inches.     Female  larffer? 


'Ill  ;;a|ie, 


ahoiit  ti 


one 


Tl 


""'•  ii  half;  (ar; 


11  inclie.s 


"■hind  th 


and   iiTe;,'iilar 


V  ''VO. 


^*'i"f,'.  six  and  a 


is  the  lar;,'e,st  „f  th,,  Sj 


'■■"IS,  one  and  a 


restrieied  (,,  On,  j,!,,,^, 


We  1 


'«  "'■  the  Allaiil 


'"''.'''"''■•^  "'■  th'i    United  St 


'piarter 


I'lvo  never  seeiiit  from  the  1 


ic  1 


'"  tl"'  I'nited  Stat 


'acilie  ( 


ii'  tills  division 


'alev 


and 


"Pl'ears  ( 


as  the  (;ia\'. 


t'  it,  which  apjieais  t„  1 


'"•ked  .Snipe,  t| 


'•s,  this  hird  is  k 


'Oasl. 


"'■  tl"!  'Continent  of  A 


o  ho 
nieriea. 


is  ^,'iven  liv  Al 


loiiyh 
'"'  a  eoiniiK 


wc  I 


"own  as  the  l;,.,|_| 


""^■''  "''ver  heard  th 


"•t'astcd  Snipe,  f,r 


to  he  al 


"'■rican  anlhor.H.     'I'l 


""  "l'liellali(„l  of  tl 


I'!  name 


"hs(diit(dy  identical  will 


III"  is  one  (if  (I,,. ,: 


'le  same 


VIKjI 


ion  over  the  world. 


The  hird  I 


li  a 
'•"peciallv  in  t 


■pi'cics  of  K 


lias  rcceivc;|  a 


le  se;is 


''■W  sp, 
and 


"pi'cies  ill   |. 


■'■"'s  of  hirds  w| 


""iielimes 

"pplied 
iirop;.,  u,|,l 


that  a(l(.ple(l  at  the  h 


lead  of  II 


variety  ,,f  nam, 


'"    "f  SO|||||,.|.,| 


of  Ver 


'"'•h  appears 


id'wii 


'ni;,'i'ation 


'■y  '■Xleiisive  did,, 


ill"  article. 


"•''  1 1";  very  li,st 


"I'pi'ars  to  be 


I  lii«  spc'cios  a|,|,,.„r«  i„  >f„„.  ,,;„„|      ,  . 

""""■"»pri„,-,„„l  „„„„„„.     U   :  I         ^  "''''"  ''"-™- 
"'"'  "'ll'  "«"'.l.v  i..  small  n,„.|«     ,      ',?■"  ""  "'"  "'"""• 

'I".'  .I»ni|,li„„  l,y  Wil,„„;^  l'»l'"»,»i.d  will  give 

i";™i:':!::;i;:z'::!:r"": ^--i  ,.„.,.,  „„.„„.. 


!  .il 

.1; 


442 


ORNITIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Those  usually  Ho  at  h.  short  depth  bolow  the  surface ;  hut,  in  sonu^ 
places,  are  seen  at  low  water  in  heaps,  like  masses  of  wet  grain,  in 
quantities  of  more  than  a  bushel  togothor.  During  the  latter  part 
of  summer  and  autumn,  those  minute  sholl-fish  constitute  the  food 
of  almost  all  those  busy  Hocks  that  run  with  such  activity  along  the 
sands,  among  the  flowing  and  retreating  waves.  They  are  univer- 
sally swallowed  whole ;  but  the  action  of  the  bird's  stomach, 
assisted  by  the  shells  themsolvos,  soon  reduces  them  to  a  pulp.  If 
we  may  judge  from  their  effects,  they  must  be  extremely  nutritious  ; 
for  almost  all  those  tribes  that  feed  on  them  arc  at  this  season  mere 
lumps  of  fat.  Digging  for  these  in  the  hard  sand  wotdd  be  a  work 
of  considerable  labor ;  whereas,  when  the  particles  are  loosened  by 
the  flowinir  of  the  soa,  the  birds  collect  them  with  great  ease  and 
dexterity.  It  is  amusing  to  observe  with  what  adroitness  they  fol- 
low and  elude  the  tumbling  surf,  while,  at  the  same  time,  they  seem 
wholly  intent  on  collecting  their  food. 

"  The  Ash-colored  Sandpiper,  the  subject  of  our  present  account, 
inhabits  both  Europe  and  America.  It  has  been  seen  in  great 
numbers  on  the  Seal  Islands,  near  Chatteaux  Bay ;  is  said  to  con- 
tinue the  whole  summer  in  Hudson's  Bay,  and  breeds  there.  Mv. 
Pennant  suspects  that  it  also  breeds  in  Denmark,  and  says  that 
thev  a))pear  in  vast  flocks  on  the  Flintshire  shore  during  the  winter 
season.  "With  us  they  are  also  migratory,  being  only  soi'u  in 
spring  and  autumn.  They  are  plump  birds ;  and,  by  those  accus- 
tomed   to  the  sedgy  taste   of   this  tribe,  are  esteemed  excellent 


eating. 


Of  the  breeding  habits,  nest,  eggs,  &c.,  I  am  ignorant. 


ARQUATRLLA,  Baiho. 

TEINGA    MARITIMA.  — /?/•!(«»/(■/(. 

The  Purple  Sandpiper. 

Trini]n  mnritimn,  nrtinnich.  Orn.  Hor.  (1704),  54.  Niitt.  Man.,  11.  115.  Ami. 
Orii.  Bio;,'.,  III.  (1S35)  C58.     lb.,  liinls  Am.,  V.  (1842)  201. 

DKSCItllTION. 

Bill  rather  longer  than  tiio  head,  straif^ht,  compressod;  nasal  proovo  Iomr;  winjrs 
long;  tail  short,  roinuU'd;  k'^,'s  moderate;  toes  free  at  base,  flattened  imderneath  and 
f-liyhtly  margined;  hind  toe  small;  entire  head  and  upper  parts  dark  smoky-brown, 


L' 


THE   CURLKVV  SAXDPiper. 


448 

■"or.  .,r  K.,Hs  cHl^e,!  ,„ul  ,1,,,,,,,  ,;.„,,  J,      y^'"    ""  '  '^P'"  <'•'  'lark-ash  v;  win«  cnJol 

<ro.n  «.„...  o„,.  an.l  a  ,,„art..r;  tarsus.  .,ne  i  ,  ,'.       f         '  *"*''  '^°  "'"1  »  ''«"•;  bill 
y^.- Easter,.  North  An.erica;  i.:un,,,o.     '         "'■""*''" 

This  species  is  not  uncommon  on  our  shn-o     i     • 
«l>nng  and  u„tnmn  mi..,,i,ions   wo      V  ^"'"'"^  *'"« 

l-sy  in  their  seai-chn;;/::'^^^^^ 
which  constitute  their  ,.-incip  1        a''^';V"'  "•"^^'^^«'^"«. 
characteristics  of  the  Spotted  ^„  ^7  ^"''  ^"  *''« 

^-nWhoir  preference  tc::X2r^^^^^ 

Kichanis,,,,,  t|,„y  lay  four  J.T'      T  '  '""""'•'"'S  '"  Dr. 

with  suiall  h.,.og„la,.  .,„„„  of  pa     I  it'    ''  "','«f  ■""■'"'d 
"Wu.sc  end,  an,l  ,.a,-o  at  the  „,C"  '  """'^"^  "'  '"" 

TEINGA    SVBAmV ATA. -Temm. 
The  Curlew  Sandpiper. 

Tiitlr/n  .iil?)(irnun/fr   Tnnii.i       Ar         rr 

or».  «„«.,  ,„.  .!.»;«;."".,';;;;;,;'.[:','="',»::;,  ,^;»''-  >■«-. «. ....  a.. 

r>KSCltIl'TI(>N. 

Hill  ratlu-r  N.rif,r,,r  ,i,,,„  ,|„.  ,      ,    , 

t-1  short;  l..,.s  h,„,,  ,,..,„,.„.  ,„„^  ,„;i„.l"  ;""'"•''■'  '^T^-^'''  ^v'-n.^  i,,,,^,  p„inted; 
n^-r  parts  hr,.„.„ish-..la..k    noa^t^'^^^^^'T' T'  """""""  """-"™'" 

b..n,lso,  l,ro,v„,Vh-l.la..k:  ni,,.s  ashv ',  r,         li>        "  !"" -'"■'^'. -it"  transverse 
'!"'■  .iark-y..ll„wi>h   ru.i.us,-   ,s,d..s    ,'x      w,   '       f  "' '''■''"'''''^■^  ^^"''''''•'  -"-I<t  parts 

Kntnish-hrowM.  ">'  """  •>  greenish  gloss;  bill  and  legs 

n..;;::i;2^:!;r :;- ,r:;  :;:^i :;;;,-;; "- «'  .■» ..  .r  .„.  p,„.,. 


! ; 


I  Iff 


444 


OUNITHOLOOY   ^ND   OOLOGY. 


Total  It-nRth,  nl»)ut  I'lKl.t  nnd  o  liulf  to  nine  indiesi  wiiiR,  flvf;  toil,  two  and  it 
qimrtor;  bill,  from  p'l"'  ""''  '""'  «  •l"'"'''''  ••'  '""'  "'"'  "  '"'"''  •'"'"'■''  '""'  '"  '""'  '""' 
a  qiiartcr  iiiclit'Si  iris  lia/cl. 

Mii.  — Atlantic  coast  of  the  United  States,  runs  ICurope;  Asia;  Africa. 

This  la  niidoiibtcdly  the  most  raro  of  all  our  slioi-o  birdH. 
I  fouml  a  single  spccinuMi  in  a  hunch  of  Sandi/ipci-a  ahot  on 
Capo  Ann,  in  the  auttunn  of  180'),  for  Hale  in  the  principal 
market  in  Boston.  Tliin  is  the  only  instance  that  has  'omo 
to  my  own  knowledge  of  its  heing  found  here.  AiuIuImju 
speaks  of  two;  and  otiier  writers,  ot  a  few  more  in  dillerent 
years.  Of  its  breeding  habits,  nest,  eggs,  &c.,  I  am  igno- 
rant. 

TEINGA    ALPINA    var.    AMERICANA  -  ^Ws.'/i. 

The  Eod-backed  Sandpiper;  Grass-bird. 

TAngn  alj,!mr,  1/mniinis.  Syst.  Nat..  I.  (1700)  240.  Wils.  Am.  Oni.,  VII.  (IHIH) 
25.  Nu'tt.  Man.,  11.  100.  Au.l.  (hii.  lii(«.,  III.  (1S35)  5S0.  7/^.,  Birds  Am.,  V. 
(1842)  26(3. 

PKSClMl-rioN. 
Bill  longer  than  the  head,  wide  at  hase,  ciirvod,  sli^'htly  wI.IimwmI  and  flattened 
towards  the  end;  nasal  groove  and  another  groove  in  the  nnder  mandil.le  long 
and  very  ilistiiut:  wings  hmg:  tad  short,  witli  the  two  middle  feathers  longe.st  and 
'lioint.'d";  h'gs  rather  long  and  slender,  lower  half  of  the  tihia  naked;  toes  niochTate, 
free  at  base,  flattened  underneatli  and  >liglilly  niarginated;  .daws  nnnh  .omi.ressed, 
hind  toe  small;  upper  parts  y.dlowisli-red.  mixed  with  ashy,  and  .very  f.'alh.r  liav- 
ini;  a  lanee.dale,  ovate,  or  narrow  spot  in  the  e.'nir.',  m.ist  numerous  .,m  tli.'  ha.k  and 
rump;  fr.)nt.  si.les  of  th.>  hea.l,  and  entire  under  parts,  nshy-wdiite:  ii.'aily  imre-wliiti' 
on  the  ali.l.im.n  ami  under  tail  eoverls;  a  wi.l.'  tninver.se  ban. I  of  bla.k  aer.iss  the 
lower  part  of  the  breast;  un-k  b.loie  an.l  upper  part  of  the  br.ast  with  narn.w 
longitudinal  spots  of  br.)wnish-blaek;  under  wing  eoverts  and  axillary  t.alh.Ts 
whit.";  quills  light  ashy-hnnvn.  darker  on  their  outer  edges,  with  their  slialts  white; 
tail  f.'ath.rs  light  ashy-brown:  mi.l.lle  leathers  darker,  outer  nearly  white;  bill  and 
Icgsbrowni.sh-lilaek;  sex.s  alike;  iris  dark-haz.d. 

U'iiili  r  riuimuji.  —  I'.ntir.'  upper  parts  .lark-a-by,  nearly  l)laek  on  Ih.'  rnnip.  i\w\ 
upper  tail  coverts;  throat,  ab.h)men,  axillaries  an.l  un.ler  wing  e.iverts,  white; 
breast  pal.-ashv,  with  longitudinal  lines  of  dark-brown. 

T.)tal  length,  eight  to  eight  an.l  a  half  iiuhes;  wing,  five;  tail,  two  and  a  .pmr- 
ter,  bill,  from  gape,  one  an.l  a  half;  tarsus,  one  iii.h. 
y/.rft.  —  Kntire  temperate  regions  of  North  America. 

This  is  a  rather  abundant  species  on  our  shores  in  the 
spring  and  autumn  migrations.  It  ai)pe:irs  here  al)out 
the  last  week  in  April  or  hrst  week  in  May,  and  frequents 


THR  PKCTORAL  SANDPIPKR. 


445 


tlio  beach,  wlicin  it  lian  nil   (li,>  i.„i  •«         ^ 
|'luiuaj,'e.     Jt  is  ill   hcst  n.iidilio,.  L  .,  i-    7^"*-"'  "*  l^^"* 

"  Tlu!  iifst  is  ii  sli;rlit  hollow  in  a  (Irv  nlao,,  h... ;.        v      , . 

"■ ■■■; '  «■■.-»  i-« ;  i'!n,;  *;;:'"?,:;:!,:•;;;: 

"; '"■■■;;;'" :" -i'.""-'™.  -  i...-h  ..,,,1  f,„„.-„v,.m ,  ri :, 

*VL.„.|w,-ll,lHi„l„.,, i|.,„v,„,„  IH,i  ..,,,,„;,,,'  ''• 

""y " '  '■■ '  »■ .■n.-i:....r ;;::'  ":;:,;:::i;;;; 

I  Ik.  ,„,ms.  I,k,.  il„„„  „f  ,|,„  (:„|,|„„   PI,,     .  ■  "'""H"t. 


Tl,i«  »,,.,*.«,  „•:,„„  it  returns  in  ll,„  antnmn,  Into  in  Sop- 


1 

as  food. 


f,\'       '  '  !' 


1,  two  ami  a  ([imr- 


ACTODUOMAS,  Kaup. 

TEINGA    MACULATA.-  r;,ilU 

The  Pectoral  Sandpiper. 

Tnn,,„  ,n,n;d„M,  Virill,,,.     Suuy.  UUt,  XXXIV.  (1810)  m 

V.  582.     JL,  Hi...!.  A,,..,  v!  (1..12,"5,!  '         "'■  "'"»■'  "f-  f"3S^  eOli 

DesCKII'IIdv. 

Hill  nKlHT  Inn-rr  (I.an  (I„.  |„.,i,|.  ,„ni|.n-M.,i  .liH.tK-  ,!,.,>,        i       , 

"'«  'iP=  —'I  «■• -  I..n.s  ..i„.s  !„„«.    t...  -il-.     '"".""'  '''''"'"''•^^  "* 

Imilnakni;  toos  Inv  at  lr..o  (i,m,.n..,l  ,  n  i        ^     "'•■■■' "'itl,  n.arv  its  lower 

■^l-t;  .'.i.l,|l,.  .■..<!».    nt!.^^^  tail  rather 

e...ed  ana  ti,,..  with  ir:!. ::  iizj"'::  ::;:;t'''^^^^    '"^  """'^- 


]| 


*ll 


It!  f 


ill 


440 


OUNITHOLOUY   AND   OOLOOY. 


the  eye  onhy-wliite;  throat,  iibiioinuii,  uiiiti^r  win((  covert*,  axilliiry  ffnthnm,  and 
uiuItT  tail  foviTlK,  wliilr;  Itrciist  imd  link  liclnrt'  iiKliy-whito;  all  the  ('ciiIIiith  darker 
at  lia^i',  anil  willi  |iai'tially  coiucali'd  laiici'iilatu  or  |iiiiiilrd  Hpoli  ol  lii'iiwiiiHli-lihick; 
•luills  liriiwiiish-lilaik ;  nliall  of  lirst  priiiiary  white,  nl'  <ilher«  Ih-mwii;  Hi'i'iiiidarieH 
ti|i|ied  and  ed^ed  with  wliilu;  tertiaiiex  ed^ed  witll  dull  reddi.sti-yelltiw;  bill  and 
feet  dark  xreeiiiKh-hlaek;  iriit  dark-huxel, 

'riiliil  length,  aliiiiit  nine  inrhes;  win^;,  live  and  u  ([imrtur;  tail,  tud  and  a  half; 
bill  til  K'>l"'<  ""*' '""'  nni'i'iKlith;  tarsus,  ime  iinh. 

Had.  —  Thu  iMitiru  coitttH  ut'  North  Ainurica ;  Sniilli  America;  Kiiropo. 

This  vvc'll-known  spocios  ia  pretty  iibmidiintly  distiibtitcd 
aluiig  uur  cuust  in  tliu  spring  and  uutinnn  niiirrations,  wIkmi 
it  appears  in  small  flocks,  in  May,  in  the  rorincr  seiisons, 
and  in  August  and  ScptemhiM-  in  (he  hitter.  It  has  all  the 
liahits  of  the  other  Sandpipers,  hut  is  more  ol'ten  seiMi  in 
the  marshes  and  meadows,  particularly  in  tin;  autunm,  Ihtui 
tl"^  others,  where  it  eagerly  pursues  the  various  insects 
■which  are  round  there,  particularly  the  grasshoppers  and 
crickets,  that  rurnish  food  for  so  many  of  our  passing  birds. 
Tiiis  species  is  best  known  to  our  gunners  by  the  name  of 
the  (li'iiss-bird.  It  is  a  favorite  with  tluun  because  of  its 
line  ilavor  on  the  talde  ;  and  it  is  found  in  considerable 
abundance  in  our  markets,  where  it  meets  a  ready  sale  at  a 
very  remunerative  price. 

TEINGA  BONAPAETII.  — .SfcA/ff/et 

Bonaparte's  Sandpiper. 

Trhiijii  Schiri:!!,  Xnttall.  Man.,  II.  10i».  And.  Orn.  Hi%'-,  Hf.  (IRSr.)  520. 
76.,  liirds  Anier.,  V.  ( 1S4'J)  27o. 

Trinyii  lionapnrlii,  Schlegcl.     Rev.  Crit.  Ois.  Kiir.,  (1841)  89. 

Dl'.si  IIIITIIIN. 

Snialier;  liill  slinlilly  arilied  towards  the  tip,  whieh  is  siiniewlnit  enlarfred  innl 
fluftened,  al)(int  the  lenn'h  of  the  head;  grooves  in  lioth  niandililes  long  and  nar- 
row; wirin>  lont^;  seeondary  iinills  iililii|iicly  ineised  at  (he  end>;  tail  ralluT  liin;;er 
than  u-nal  in  tlii"  group,  with  the  I'eatlieis  liniad;  legs  rather  long  and  slimier;  lues 
tree  at  base;  hind  toe  very  Pinnll;  upper  part.s  light  ashy-hrown;  daikir  on  tlie 
rump;  nearly  all  the  feathers  with  ovate  or  wide  laiieeolate  central  spots  of  limwiiisli- 
hlack,  and  many  of  them  edged  with  bright  yellowish-red;  upper  tail  roverts  wliile; 
under  parts  whili',  with  numerous  snudl  spots  of  dark-brown  on  the  neck  bil'nrc, 
breast,  and  sides,  somewhat  disposed  to  form  transverse  bunds  on  the  last;  ipiills 
brownish-black,  darker  at  the  tips;  Kliatl  of  outer  primary  white,  of  others  light- 
brown;  middle  feathers  of  tail  browiiish-blai  k;   outer  t'cathers  lighter,  and  edged 


ir 


ry  fi'atliom,  and 

1'  iVHtliiTH  (liirkcr 
IprdwiiiMh-lihitk  J 
vvii;  Hi'rdiularii'H 
yiJItiw;   bill  mill 

,  two  ami  a  hull'; 


•  (liHtrihutcd 
itions,  wIkmi 
nor  .soasoiis, 
b  lias  all  tlu! 
ten  seiMi  ill 
itiiniii,  than 
oils  insocts 
io|»|»(!rs  iiiid 
issin^  birds. 
Ii'.'  naino  of 
cause  of  its 
j()iisid('ral)l»3 


111.  (1835)  620. 


at  i'nlai';;i'(l  ami 
s  Iciii^f  and  iiar- 
ail  liilliiT  loii;;iT 
111(1  >li'ii(l('i';  Icics 
I ;  (laiUiT  (in  tlio 
pdls  (if  liriiwnUli- 
lii  rdvcrls  wliilc; 
till'  neck  licl'iiri', 
I  tile  last;  (jnills 
,  of  (itliiTs  !i^;lit- 
;litcr,  and  i'df,a'(l 


THK   LEAST  SANDl'n.Ku. 


447 


will.  aHhy-whifoj   under  winjr  overt.  ,,,,  i       ■„ 
i"l"IlcnKlli,ubout8t.v..|umli..H:   win,r   r 

This  liii',1  „|«„  ja    |-|      Ii, 

iM-i-i.«ivo ,„  ..,;,,,,„,,';;™';  '•»!>"';'»■■■""  |'.vmi,.  ,,„„. 

tlio  pn«,li„j;,  l,„t  :„„  „||  ii,  ■,,,,,.'  '"    "»"  "'"""liil.t  Hum. 

(^•'■i<-ir(MMiit,,,M,.M,u,idrmM,  ,!     •       "';'""■"  '"  "'"''" 

»'™- -f-o„™'.„  Uiowt     ,'"";■'"•■"  ','";'  """"''^ 

V.0   c.r  i,.|.,alio    i„„ocl«;    a,„|    i  '„    '  """""I-- "l"l  I.U- 

."-l..>v.,,  at  a  ...lisi,,., ;,;;„"",  --    ■'"    l'"»l.-w,U.,. 
-...oil  „rtlii»  van.,,  „,•  r,    I      'x^'T     "'""■"• '"'»^  i" 

«». .""■  .hail  ih„,„  '1  y ' : '  ""*':. ''  '"'•»  '""■• 


rrlni/n  piinitln,  Wi\^ 


1**0.     ///.,  Itinis  Am.,  V.  (1 


TEINGA  WILSONII.-_AV,,//. 
The  Least  Sandpiper;  Peep. 
Ix'm.     Am.  Oin.,  V.  (ihi; 


(I'^'lL'j'JSO. 


1)  aa. 


7V%a  ir<y^,.H,7,  Nuttall.    JIan.   (I. 


Aud.  Ora.  Jii,,^,.,  jv.  (ifs^s. 


(If-^H)  121. 


Tl 


tif  smajlcsf  (,f  all  kmiwi 


1)1 


•'^<  IIIITIIl.N. 


ilimil  as  Ion;;  as  tlio  Ii 


•■■N|.an.l(.,l;  Kr.mvcs  in  laiil,  niamlil.l 
"«  I'.iif,'  as  111,,  |.rimari..s;   laii  s\ 


'  ;^'';''''^  •"'  ""'^  ff.M,p  f,i„„(l  i„  X 
furvwl  towards  the  end,  ,v| 


sii^'ht 


.rth  A 


niciica;   l)il 


I"'"  <•'  iH'ar  11,,.  ,i,,;  „i    ,  I, 


i|Ucnlly  Ii 
lOl's  1 1 

niail\ 

Kinc' 


liort; 


liii'li 


"ig;  fiTtia 


"|«:'T  (Imn  tl„.  i„,,.n ,|,„,     ,^ 


■"i'l'll"  H'atln.rs  |„„;;,.st,  ^..te 


I"*  very  siljrlitly 
ncs  rn.ai-iv 


'";''''■•  """Killed,  and  (lali,.n,.,|  I 


■f  '""«:   '"«'T  third  oft|„,  ,ii 


Willi 


idvcrls  lilaok;   oiiIit  tw^.ri 


'atlicr  haviu),'  a  lar-,-  .•.•ntral 
•owiiisli-r,.,! 


"•"••atlijliindi 


"»'  small;  ui 


T  t<'atli,.rs  fro- 
'ia  nakc.i; 


liy  and  bright  bi 


and  brca.Mt,  palo  asl 


's  while, 


'I'"' "' l'i"»-'iish-Ma,.k,  and 
''iii'i|)  mid  middl,.  „f  0 


'||'T  pans  with 


wide 


i.v  inar- 


liy-whit,.,  w 


'""""' "'•"''•l^'<k;stn>,nertl 


alidiiincn  and  niidcr  tail 


'"'  """,i-i"ii-  small  l(inKiin,|i„al 


|ininariis  w 
Mack: 


hit. 


<ov,.rts  white ;  ,pi||ls  durk- 


li.its  of 


'"-■    'ippiT   tail 

'"'  »'y<',  III  real, 

ashy-bniwi 


;  U'ilianVs,.,|^...,l„.iihr,.d(li.h;  mi.j 


with  a  I 


'liter  liathers  li^dit  ashv-wli 


«rK<'  spot  of  whit 


f,'reonisli-brown.  tlie  lall 


''  near  the  shonid 


lit-':   iindir  snrlaee  of 


"':'"';•  "i'li  III.-  shatts  of  the 
^"f  the  tail  brownish- 


die  teatl 


Willi; 


liKht  b 


l.T  fre(in 


Total  len^'tli,  fniiii  n,,  „,■  ,,j|| 


ineiitlv  yell(iwisli-<rr 


'•-•=  axilla,^  leather,  white;  bill  and 


"'""■iiish-asliv, 
le.'S 


«iiif,Mhr,.e  and  a  half  l„  three  and  II: 


to  <.'nd  of  tail,  about  Ii 


'  "lid  a  half  t 


'"  Kape,  three-quarters;  farsn.s,  tl 


■re.winarters;   tail,  „„«  „,„i  „ 


Hub.—  Kntiie  te 


^niperalo  North  Anierie 


inM-,|uarters  of  an  iiieh 


"  six  inches; 
lirt'e-quurters;  bill 


j;^il 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 

The  Least  Sandpiper  or  "  Peep "  is  so  well  known  on 
our  shores  that  uny  description  is  almost  superfluous.  It 
makes  its  appearance  ea.ly  in  May,  in  small  i)arties  of 
five  or  six,  and  (piickly  proceeds  to  the  most  northern 
sections  of  the  continent,  where  it  breeds,  and  then  im- 
mediately returns  to  our  shores,  where  it  remains  until 
early  in  October,  when  it  passes  on  to  the  South.  Au- 
dubon, in  describing  its  breeding  habits,  says,  "  That 
this  species  is  naturally  disposed  to  seek  alpine  sections 
of  the  country  for  the  purpose  of  rei)roduction,  I  obtained 
abundant  jn-oof  whilst  in  Labrador,  where  I  found  it  pleii- 
tii'ul,  and  breeding  on  the  moss-clad  crests  of  the  highest 
rocks,  within  short  distances  of  the  sea."  On  finding  the 
nest,  he  says,  — 

"  Four  beautiful  eggs,  larger  than  I  had  expected  to  see  pro- 
duced by  birds  of  so  small  a  size,  lay  fairly  beneatli  my  eye,  as  I 
kuclt  over  tlieni  for  several  miuntcs  in  perfect  ecstasy.  The  iiest 
had  been  formed  first,  apparently,  by  tlic  patting  of  tlie  little 
creatures'  feet  on  the  crisp  moss,  and  in  the  sliglit  hollow  thus 
produced  were  laid  a  few  blades  of  slender,  dry  grass,  bent  in  a 
circular  manner;  the  internal  diameter  of  the  nest  being  two 
inches  and  a  half,  and  its  depth  an  incii  and  a  quarter.  T!ie  eggs, 
which  were  in  shape  just  like  those  of  the  Spotted  Sandpiper,  T. 
martiJdrins.  measured  seven  and  a  half  eighths  of  an  inch  in  length, 
and  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  breadth.  Their  ground-color  was  a 
rich  cream-yellow  tint,  blotched  and  dotted  with  very  dark  unibcr, 
the  markings  larger  and  more  numerous  toward  the  broad  end. 
They  were  placed  with  their  broad  ends  together,  and  were  (piitt; 
fresh.  The  ne>t  lay  under  the  lee  of  a  small  rock,  exposed  to  all 
the  heat  the  sun  can  atlbrd  in  that  country." 

It  is  during  tin  latter  jtart  of  August  and  the  greater 
part  of  September  that  this  species  is  most  abundant  in 
New  England,  where  it  generally  confines  itself  to  the  sea- 
coast,  but  sometimes  ))enotrates  to  the  large  tracts  of  water 
in  the  interior,  gleaning  there  its  food  of  small  shell-lish, 
crustaceans,  and  insects  in  the  pools  of  water  and  on  the 


THE   SANDERLIX.}. 


449 


3trr  r  „.,trr  °' '-  '"■■=-  «™^^  - «-  -- 


f»!l{!| 


I  fuidhig  the 


il  to  see  pro- 
niy  oye,  as  I 

,y.  The  nest 
of  the    little 

t    liollow    tllll-i 

ass,  bont  in  a 
st  being  two 
1-.  Tlie  ('j:l;s, 
Sandpiper,  7'. 
inch  ill  lenifth, 
nd-color  was  a 
y  (lark  unilier, 
\u'.  broad  end. 
iiid  \vert>  (piite 
exjjosed  to  all 


1  tll(!  jiTCiltcr 
abumliiut  in 
f  to  tho  sea- 
•acts  of  water 
all  slioU-lisli, 
r  and  on  tin; 


CALIDRis,  CuviER. 


CnliJris,  CuviER,  Anat.  Comn    V  ■      1 
e.na^n.te;  toes  .Hon;  "^^Ule  one  .a^i J :::Z-X';;:;^"^ '  ''' '^^^ 


CALIDEIS  ARENAEIA.-7//;^er. 
The  Sanderling. 


rtriffa  arennria,  Liniiicug.     Svst.  X 


Birds  Am.,  V.  (1842)287, 


Cdlith 


■It.,  r.  (17C6)  25].     Aud. 


Orn.  B 


102 


■IS  areiifiriii,  III 


/4, 


Chiifudrhis  calhlris  \ 


liffor.     Prod.  (1811)  o 


149. 


(1S1.3)  68 


."ina>us.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (i 


Xiitt.  M 


iin.,  IT. 


Charmlrius  7-vlidus.     Gm.,  I.  (1788) 


(1700)  255.      Wiig.  j^ 


(1834)  4. 


Orn.,  VII. 


No  hind  foe;  front  tops 


ly  margined  with  a  mom  I 


DEsciiir 
moderate 


6S8.    Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VII  (1813) 


129. 


'Tiox. 


thick : 


thu 


rid^'c  of  upper  maiidild 


"ihrane;   hill  rather  1 


•ippcr  iiiarulil 


(latt. 


>  not 


^'■'K'd;  nas 


I'erlonff.flaffonodnnderneath- 
■WT  tfian  the  head,  strai..| 


'■"i''l  at  the  tip;    aperture  of  tl 


distinct  in  the  I 


i,'i-o.)vo  deep,  and  lU'arlv 


tail 


moderate;  I 


'""■f.  with  the  middle  fenthe 


ic  nostril  larire,  and 


l""-er;   both  niandil 


distinct- 
It,  ratiier 
as  lony;  as 


'■Ld  with  a  mem 


"idenod  and  flat- 


late 


liastate,  and  ovat( 


lower  third  of  the  til 


ila  ll;i 


•''; "rs,  and  shorter  quills;  rumn 

fit'       J.I.K.I.- 1         _.  » 


P"ts  Of  l.rownish-blaek  on  tl, 


i-'i'sf;    under  coverts  I 
'PP«r  parts  li-ht-ashv 


hrane ; 


!""«  as  the  t 


win;^ 


[u! 


y,  wit 


iinceo- 


and 


">'"P"f  the  head,  on  the  back 


-■•-"-^^  ..nder  parts     ..-IvS'Z  Zf^f --'-vith  ,i„e  tra^;;;:.  .,.., 
—  ,sh-hlack,  with  the.  shnits  ^hife.  ,    ;     ;;;:•:'""'^.-"-t  ^Pots;  quill 

win-  everts  widelv  tipped   with  win  ,'''''''""' ""^'■- "'"or  webs;  .rre,te,. 

e.i.^..  with  white;  outet'.W.fhelll'p^  ! '.^  '  ,'^'""-  "^  "-«  tail  ash -^^^^ 
.r.s  l>n,w„.  P    ^■•'  t""  ■'■Kl  lof,'s  greenish-black;  sexes  alike- 

'■■   '^Piiii.i;  rdumage,  the  head,  neck    nn,I  I ,.      . 

'^  --'■-;-'•  ^pottcd  with  dark-br:wb,:r  ;■'''"  ^'"^^'^  ^^""  P"'"'  vcllow- 
y.llow,sh.rc.l;  run.p  and  under  fail  J^/l;"^''''''  •^'•«'"' -"'  "Pin^l  uith 
Pm-e-wlute.  ash^ -brown,  under  parts  of  the  body 

A:;:hu,;:;;;v:;:r,::r;;;::;s:';^:r;^''-"  America.  Europe. 

;-.;".ii...  its  range,  in  winter,  into  S  ^  ;  '^^  ^^^^  ?''  '"«  H^'P-hhc,  and 
"",^"""  '"■'"■-''  "'e  A„.erica„  and  the  u  ,n  .  .'  ''""  '""'  ""  '•^'"'"''«  ^is- 
quite  nnuerially  i„  size  and  length  of  bill        '^""  ^"■'''  ^'""t"'  ■'P«'^i»'ens  differ 

2U 


"it 


'  VI 


~ 


450 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


The  Sanderling,  most  often  called  the  "  Beach-bird  "  by 
gunners,  is  pretty  abundant  on  our  shores  in  the  autunni 
migrations.     It  is  rarely  seen  in  spring,  but  seems  to  move 
by  us  in  passing  to  its  northern  breeding-grounds.     Accord- 
ing to  Mv.  Ilulchins,  it  breeds  on  the  coast  of  Hudson's 
Bay,  where  it  constructs,  on  the  marshes,  a  rude  nest  of 
grass,  laying  four  dusky  eggs,  spotted  with  black,  on  which 
it  begins  to  sit  aV)()ut  the  middle  of  June„    Early  in  f^eptem- 
ber,  ''sometimes  by  the  20th  of  August,  it  returns  to  our 
shores,  where  it  associates  with  the  Sandpipers  in  small 
flocks.     It  has  all  the  habits  and  characteristics  of  these 
birds,  busily  seeking  in  the  retreating  waves,  and  in  tho 
pools  on  the  beach,  its  food  of  small  shells  and  crustaceans. 
It  is  quite  fat  in  the  autumn,  and  is  esteemed  by  many,  a 
fine-flavored  bird  for  the  table. 

EREUNKTES,  Illiger. 

JCreunetesJu.ic.im.    Trod.  (1811),  2C2. 

Tlie  bill  of  oiir  species  of  Ereunetes  is  quite  stout,  an.l  considerably  expan.lo.l,  by 
wbi.h  it  is  readilv  distin-uisbr.l  from  Adodromn,  Wltsonii,  indepLUidcutly  ot  tho 
sen.ipalmatedfect":  tbe  tarsus  au,l  middle  toe  are  about  equal;  the  tibia  denuded 
anteriorly  for  about  two-tiiirds  the  length  of  tarsus;  the  basal  membrane  of  toes 
is  more  scolloped  out  interiorly  than  exteriorly;  the  not.l.  externally  not  quite  as 
de..p  as  to  the  first  joint,  aUlmiigh  the  membrane  extends  beyond  the  second. 
There  is  a  tendency  to  hcxafional  subdivi.Moii  in  the  bare  portion  of  t.biu  anteriorly. 
The  tail  is  doubly  jniarginate. 


EREUNETES  PETRIFICATUS.  —  Ilt!;;er. 
The  Samipalmated  Sandpiper;  Peep. 
y?«««eto;)efn>7(«.,  Illiger.    Prod.  (1811),  2>V2.    (I'roved  identical  with  Trhuia 
se7»(;«?wii(<<',  Wils.,by  Cabanis.)  .     -   ,>       „•       v 

Trinna  umlpnhmta,  Wilson.     Am.  <)rn.,  VII.  (1813)  131.    Aua.  (.rn.  Hior..  A  . 
(183'J)  111.     /6..  Hirds  Am..  V.  (1842)  277. 

Trlnija  {htUn'jxxJ")  saiiijialiiuila,  Nuttall.    Man.,  V   (1831)  130. 

PKHntirTioN. 
Bill  about  the  lenRth  of  the  head,  rather  thicker  than  usual  in  this  proup;  hofli 
mandibles  somewhat  expanded  and  flattened  at  the  tip.  and  minutely  pumtulated. 
us  in  the  genera  Sroh,/,,,^  and  Onm,w;,o;  winRS  long;  legs  moderate,  rather  slen- 
der; toes  united  at  base  by  a  imMubrane,  which  is  large,  between  the  outer  and 
middle  toes,  extendin«  to  the  first  joint;  hiud  toe  small;  tail  short,  with  the  middle 


i 
I 


THE   SEMIPALMATED 


SANDPIPER, 


451 


ft'aflK.rs  longest;  outer  feathers  frern,,,!    . 

'■"""■^■iimte  clmracter  to  tl„  f  ■.,"'"'"">'  lon-or  tlmn  tlie  third  nm      .• 

'  "'•'!  length,  about  six  and  u  |,.,|f  in  . 

"-''.  isouth  ^lineriea. 

appearance  anti  iKii.its  with  thoVr^  ^^^^^      "^  ^'"^  S^^c^'al 

appears  at  the  satne  tin.e,  associate'. -th'  T^T'"'     '' 
nught  easily  be  mistaken  for  it    vl,  '     ^^  "^together 

I'^'l'^ation  of  this  species      n    \    T       "°'  ^"'"  ^^'«  «<^^"^i- 
Jocalities.  ^        '■     ^^  ^''''^'  "'  the  most  northern 

^Ii-.  ilutcln-n.s  says  tiiat  it  arrives  at  «!oro,.    ir 
";■•  -^"ntri,.s,  in  great  nun.hers,  alutto  '7^'  '^  ^''^ 

^vl'ere  it  h.uhls  a  loose  nest  of  \hh  ''"'  '^  ^^^^>^ 

"""-V  in  the  gro.n.d,  ei:;^        ^^^tlZ  T  ^  ^^^^'^^ 
e?frs,  spotted  with  black  or  d,iskv-I  w.^    T  T     ^  '''^'''' 
7-  '^-1^'' the  flight  of  this  hr;^";^^^^ 
al'"'>st  exactly  resembling  that  of  the  S,  i  ^     It"  T""^'' 
same  soft  call-note   V.r? '/,../    '    ,     "I'^'    It  also  has  the 

ilymg.  "'*'  fetrand  and  when 


Sub.Fa»u7>/  ToTANTx.,;.  -_  T/w  Sfi/fs. 

"ill  a'*  lonpr  as  the  head,  or  lon-^T-  rhe  1,.,  ni       .- 
"■miMul  portion  (^vnerallv  at  i.ast  h'al     I  '"'.'"""""'''"■'■"' «'^«  "kin:  the 

"'  '^""neu;  toes  general! v 


45: 


ORNITIIOLOr.Y    AND   OOLOOY. 


cnnnoctcdbyji  bnsnl  iiicinhrano;  the  tail  always  with  distinct  transverse  bars  in 
Nortli-Anioriirtii  specii-s,  oxiH'pt  in  llittnmdm. 

This  sub-tiiinily  app.'iirs  to  (lill'iT  from  most  Scolopncinm  in  tlie  less  (l.•^'rlH!  of  s(m- 
.sitiveness  in  the  tip  of  the  bill,  wliieli  is  more  horny,  and  not  eovered  by  sod  skin 
well  sujiplied  with  nerves.  The  toes  are  almost  always  connected  at  the  base  by  a 
membrane;  this  being  tlio  rnle  and  not  the  exception,  as  in  Scolopacime. 

SYMrilEMIA,  Rafinesque. 

Sy/nphemia,  Rafinesque,  .b.iir.  de  I'hys.  (1819).    (Type  Scohpnx  semipnlmntn, 

Gmelin.) 

HilUompressed,  very  thick,  the  ciilmcn  rounded;  the  lower  mandible  scarcely 
prooved;  the  upper  j,n-(mved  to  about  the  middle;  cidmen  sli^ditly  convex;  fionys 
ascendins;  bill  cleft  but  little  beyond  base  of  culmen;  feathers  of  sides  of  both 
mandibles  fallinff  short  of  tlie  nostrils;  the  lower  rath.'r  faitlier  forward;  chin  feath- 
ers reaching'  to  bcfiiiinins  of  nostrils;  bill  hmger  than  head,  about  e(iual  to  tarsus, 
which  is  nu)re  than  one  and  a  half  times  the  middle  toe;  both  toes  webbed,  the 
emarpnation  of  inner  web  as  far  forward  as  the  miiUHe  of  basal  joint  of  middle  toe, 
the  outer  reaching  nearly  to  the  eiui;  bare  portion  of  tibia  rather  le>s  than  middle 
toe  without  claw;  tail  nearly  even,  or  little  roiuided,  not  half  the  wings. 

STMPHEMIA    SEMIPALMATA.  — //'('•</"«*. 
The  Willet. 
Scohymx  semipabiifihis,  Gmelin.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (178S)  0.^9.    Wils.  Am  Orn.,  VI!. 

(181.3)  27. 

Tohwm  itew!p.tlm(rt,is,  Audubon.     Orn.  l?iog.,  lU.   (18.3.^.)  r.lO;  V.  r.Sf,.     linds 

Am.,  V.(  1842)324. 

TiiUinm  (C(tti)ptrnphorns)   st'iiupuhii'iliig,   IJonaparte.      Syn.    (1828),   328.     Niitt. 

Man.,  11.(1834)  144. 

SympliemUi  semipnlmnln,  Ilarllaub.     Rev.  Zool.  (184.')),  ■342. 

l)|;s<'i:ll-TIoN. 

The  largest  American  species  of  this  genus;  bill  longer  than  the  head,  straight, 
rather  fliick  and  strong;  groove  in  tlu'  upper  mandible  extending  about  half  its 
lengtli,  in  the  lower  mandible  nearly  olxolete ;  wings  I. mg;  legs  long,  strong;  tens 
moderate,  united  at  base  by  mendiran.'s,  the  larger  of  wliich  unites  the  outer  and 
middle  toe;  hind  toe  small;  t'ld  short. 

..|,/»/^_^.^tire  upper  parts  dark-ash  color  (without  spots);  the  shafts  of  the 
feathers  brownish-bla<k;  rumji  and  iipiier  tail  coverts  white;  under  parts  white, 
tinged  with  asliy  on  ;lie  neck  audsioes;  axillaries  and  under  wing  coverts  brown- 
isb-bla.k:  iirimaiy  ipiiUs  wliite  at  base,  ami  tipped  with  brownish-black;  secon- 
daries white,  spotted  with  brownish-lilack;  tail  a-hy-whitc>,  the  two  middle  li'athers 
Mrongly  tinged  with  ashy;  oth.'rs  spotted  witli  dark  a>hy-brown:  bill  dark  bliiish- 
brown.  lighter  at  base;  legs  light-bbie. 

I'-mH^/cr.  — Kntire   iihnnage  spotted,   and  tnmsversely  baudi'd  with   browni-h- 

black  :  iris  brown. 

Total  lengtli.  about  fifteen  inches;  wing,  eight  and  a  quarter;  tail,  three  and  a 
(piarter;  bill,  about  two  and  a  half;  tarsus,  about  two  ami  a  half  inches. 


W 


nsvcrsfi  bars  in 


)tix  senupalmnta, 


il  Willi  lirownish- 


THE   WILLET. 


'I'his  lnr(,'(.  ,„„1  hntiiii 


t'le  Aliaiilic  uikI  I'a,.i|i 


Ixorno  spoiics  is  caHil 


enco  of  color  hut 
is  a  chaiact 


"•  '""•'<l«<'l  ih,.  |;,.,,„|,|i,,    ., 


V    rCCO;r„iz,,,|     „„^, 


wciMi  (lie  adiili  and 


'Ik 


453 

'H  abundant  on  both 


yoiu 


'T  alvva3-s  ,„•,..,,,(,  ami  wi.sily  a 


IK  birds;    |,„t,  tl„,  ,v|| 


■••<'l«V(..ry,oiisidt.ruldedill 


lib;  spact!  oil  (I 


group  inlml.it^M^Mlu,  I -Mil.d  Slates                                                       -o^... 
"""■""""" ' "■'■" '"■■"<■ '^ H s „, ,,„. 


bi 


111;  will 


Ks 


'•'I  •<!'  thin 


''-l.-vUI,i„ M  ,:;:'.'''■'.'•     ""«»i™.all, 

^'' ''T  T'^'-''""- '- '' --^^  ' 

luiu-sh  for  its  nest  iuid  li...  i  .  l-'Ciility  m  a 

'''<'    nest   is   hiiilt  about  (!„>   |...f "       i    • 

l»iv(»l  u„  ,„c|,  ,„„|  ,,  I    If       "    "  I'lli.     Jt  IS  h„l. 

»-i.  -rco,.  „i„...  ,„.  „,„■„'„''  '",;,^,;» » "".-  ii..,.., 

I-"":" f.o... .1,,, i,„J„t „,„,  ,,. 'r:; :'-■■. "'""1;"^ 

.s«)ni.;(iiues  Lav,.„i.slHlril,  •  ..,,,1  ,'  l''''"->l'vc  color, 

cclcr.  '."uitii  iiiiiu  ||„,  j.^,,, II, 1,1. 

Tlun- viuy  ill  ,|i||,o„„|,„|^  |. 
I'V  1.4.-,  i,i,;li.     \V|„.|,  i„  |,„.    ,.  -*  ^■■■"  '""''  '"  1.:« 

"•"■•'i"»^M".'...,,:":7t'"' "'''■'''■'■"'■' '""•• 

liis  I..V..I,  .m..,.s  i,s  si  ,i  ■ •-■"'"•»"«  ».„,„.i  „v„, 

•"•' /"■" «•'».,, V,  ■,.;;:; "" ""■  »>■"'"*■-. >■'•"-■'/... 

'"■'-■.■"H,.i.i,i.'i;i;7  ::'';■'■ ■"''»""•■-"'• ^ 

!'»"■•«' ^yp.-c....n,ii,.;i;ii!::,::" ■^"■"■■■^"■' "-iv,,,,, 

«"-■.  soarchi,.,  ,;.,.  Jn,,.llii:ir,::i ''•''■"''' '"  "'" 


lll.->liS,  i^-i 


•  ,  on  whlcli  Oicy  i;.,.,i.     \^-) 


luol 


"■"  \v<.iin.i,,,|,  tlH,y  (ako 


|; 

,  ■  j  5; 

1  l",U 

ii 

''1 

ii,.. 

'i 

■ 

1  liH 

I 

t   1 

454 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


to  the  water,  and  swim  off  with  great  activity.  Tlioy  all 
leave  New  England  in  October,  when  they  are  exceedingly 
fat  and  well-iiavured. 

GAMIiKTTA,  Kaip. 

Gambtm,  K.u;i',  Eiitw.  Kurop.  Tliicrw.  (1821)).  (Typo  Seohjuix  ailidrU,  ].. 
Gray.) 

Hill  niiuli  atlciuiatcd  tovvanls  and  tiipi'iiiif^  to  tin;  end,  tlio  cxticmc  tip  di'ciirvcd  ; 
both  ciiliufii  and  K""y''i  liowt'vcr,  licnt  upwards  iVoni  tlio  middle;  the  lateral 
grooves  of  nppcr  bill  broad,  shallow,  an<l  not  cxtondlnj?  to  tlui  niiddlts  that  of  lower 
reaehinf;  about  as  far;  leathers  on  side  of  both  inandildes  extend  to  abont  tlie  sauiH 
]M)int,  but  fall  short  of  nostrils;  tlioso  on  ehin  extend  as  far  as  middle  of  inistril;  bill 
near!,  s  l^nj;  as  the  tarsus,  wliieh  is  one  and  a  half  times  the  leii);th  of  tniddle  toe; 
outer  toi^  webbed  to  lirst  joint ;  the  inner  web  very  short ;  bare  portion  of  the  tibia 
eipuij  to  thu  toes;  tip  of  tail  about  opposite  the  middle  of  outstretehed  tarsi;  le^'s 
yellow. 

GAMBETTA   'UF.LAnOLEVCA.  —  liimnjmrle. 

The  Telltale;  Stone  Snipe;  Greater  Yellow-legs. 

Smlopnx  melnnolenrui,  Gmelin.     Syst.  Nat.,  \.  (178S)  6r)9. 
Ttitdinii  miliiiiiih-iirii!i  Audubon.     Orn.  I'.ioj;.,  IV.  (IHIiH)  08. 
(litml/iltii  mihiiiiiliii'-ii,  lionap.-irte.     Comptes  liendus  (Sept.,  1850). 
Saili'piix  wclftriii,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  Vli.  (18i:i)  57. 

DEsniirrnpN. 

15111  loniccr  than  the  heail,  rather  slender,  eurved  towards  the  tip;  win^s  rather 
lonK,  tirst  (|uill  |ont;est ;  tail  short;  .eck  anil  le;;s  lonj;;  toes  moderate,  mar;;iMiil 
and  flattened  underneath,  eonneeted  at  base  by  membranes,  the  larger  of  wliii  li 
unites  ihi'  outer  and  middle  toe:  hind  toe  small;  claws  short,  bhnit;  grooves  in  buili 
nuMidibl.s  extendin.:;  about  half  their  length;  entire  upper  parts  eimteous  of  variuus 
shades,  (h>rk  in  nniny  sfieeimens  in  full  pluma},'e.  ^'er.erally  iif,'ht  with  white  lines  ou 
tlie  head  and  nerk,  and  with  spcils  ami  ed;.;in,i,'s  of  ilidl  white  on  the  olhir  ufiper 
parts;  lowir  bark  brownisli-lilai  k  ;  rump  and  upper  tail  eovi  rts  white,  -enerally 
with  more  or  le-s  imjurleet  transverse  narrow  bands  of  brownish-blaek ;  under 
|),uts  white,  with  lonj,'iludinal  narrow  stripes  on  the  neek,  and  transverse  ire>- 
eent  lameolate  and  sagittate  spots  and  stripes  on  the  breast  and  sides;  abdnuien 
])ure-white;  (|uills  brownisli-blaek  with  a  purplish  lustre,  shaft  of  lirst  priui.iry 
white;  secondaries  and  tertiaries  tipped  and  with  tninsviTse  bars  and  spots  ot  a>liy- 
white;  tail  white,  with  tran>verse  narrow  bands  of  browni-hblaek,  wid.  r  and 
darker  on  the  two  middle  leathers;  bill  brownish-black,  lij;liter  ul  the  base;  U-^-, 
yellow:    iris  darU-brown. 

Total  l<ii;;tb.  abont  fourteen  inches;  wing,  seven  and  a  half  to  ei^dit ;  tiiil.  time 
and  a  (piarter  to  three  and  a  half;  bill,  two  ami  a  ijuartcr;  titisus,  'wo  and  a  half 
inches. 

JJiib  —  I'.ntire  temperate  re{,noiis  of  North  America;  Mexico. 


ipitx    Ciilidris,  L, 


Tin.;  ykllow-li;gs. 


Tho  Croatcr  V'ollow-l 


155 


In  rat'l,  it 


may  Im  considi-ml  only 


"r"  'f  ""* '"'""""'»  in  Now  England. 


Nuttall,  ill  df.scril 


'i'lio  f»i-('ii(c;r  Ycllow-Hliiuil 


""J?  Its  liahits,  ,V 


iis  a  stra<>'(vl(;iv 


)  »vc.,  say.s,  — 


llOISi!  illld    Vii.il;ilic( 


''f^.  <"•  'rcllfalf 


ill  April, 
lixindi! 


and, 


,  arrives  on  tiio  < 
d 


«'»  I'cinarival)!,,  f,„.  jtn 


•"'^1'  '>'    111...   I\Ii.ldl(,    StiiU; 


'  l"-'"'*'«'''"'.^'  I'linnpaliy  l.y  ,,„  inla,,,! 


F'ass   (1„.   iMTiod  „f   r,.|,r(..I,„.ti„n    r,.  ■,  .''"    '■'""f  "i"  s|„.,i„.h 

"'■■i"^i- -v»i»:,  J, :";;:;:::''::, ■ :'•■■■  i-. 

'; ""«;■-.-».■  ti.o  T.., ,,,:r-,r  ::,;:::'::'■ ''''■' 

"'"   "«"'»l"-»  "1-  III"  M I,:  s,,,,,,   ,„„i|     ,„  '"""I'-' 

«'■•■'"-.  ■"'  '<«■ ." I-  N-..V,.,,,,,,.    I,    ;i:,"';"".''  ;."■  '■•:'■' 

'■■--"■l^.  "II  III..  \m r.  „r  |„„„.  ,,,,„.:,  .,1  '  '"'"'"" 

-■'"•■I  Willi «,»..» ..r  .i.,.k.i„™v,r;;  ,1:.:;:'-^-'""""  '"'-^"'""y 

1  111!  vocirci'oii.s  vitiiJaiico  of  flio  'i\Ji(  i     i 

iiializoil  l,i,u  will,  ,l„.  ,„■,..,„,.'     ""  -'"""^  ""«- 

I'u.M.iic  iiamo,  |(,i-  „()  soon,...  doou  fi,,. 

'-"":',7'' ""i'«"- "'-  1-  I" mil  "iiiiii  wi,is,i„  „r  I    r,; 

.  I-  .■III  .II-.I  i...i,i„„„.»,a,„i  ,.,.ti.,„,,,,  .1,,?;;    „ :' 

I"    ™»=  ll=™.l,|,„„y  ,l„:i,.  ,;,iu,r„|  „„|  „|,ici.„.»»„„ti„j       "' 

■-i.,.-i..in..;;,::::j;^,-;:;-;vt,:-:;;;; 

GAMBETTA  FLAVIPES.  -  Jl,„>o/.„rie. 

The  lellow-lcgs. 

(18i;i)  55.  •        '^•"■'  '•  <■''*«)  '"^O-     ^\ik  Am.  Orn.,  VII. 

Am.,  V.  (I.s^2)  .il.i.  "■'  ^^^■^'^^  ^'^'   V-   "-'0.    /4.,  Birds 

"""''""■"■"■'>""•  "'■""I"'--"-  '■o>"i><-i;.'M,h.s(s..i,t.,igfl«). 


I 


456 


OIlNITHOLOCiY   AND   OOLOGY. 


I) 


KHCHII'TION. 


IJill  rntlitT  loiif^or  timii  the  lu'iid,  stniinlif,  Hlcndor,  compressed;  wiiif;  loiif,', 
pointcil;  tiiil  short;  li'^s  l(j|if,',  lower  hall'  ol  tlii'  llbiit  nalu'il;  torn  inodcnite,  slen- 
der, mar^^iiicd,  the  outer  and  uii<lille  united  at  base;  riunp  and  iipjier  tail  eoverls 
white,  the  latter  transversely  harred  with  ashy-lirown;  other  nppir  parts  ashy,  nianv 
feathers  havin;,'  hirj^e  arrowheads  ami  irrcKidar  spots  of  brownish-hlaek,  and  ed^^eil 
with  iishy-white;  under  parts  white,  with  nnineroiis  lonnitiidinal  lines  on  the  nei  k 
bet'Te,  and  arrowheads  on  the  sides,  of  dark  ashy-brown;  axillaries  ami  under 
wiuK  eoverts  white,  with  bands  of  ashy-brown,  very  indistinct   in  mariv  -peeiniens 


but  fienerally  Well  delined;  (p 


bi 


Mii>h-blaek;  tail  ashv-wbite  with  trans 


hamls  of  dark-brown,  middle  fealhers  darker;  bill  grueliisli-blaek;  legs  yellow;  iria 
dark-brown. 

Youiu/.  —  Mntire  upper  phnnage  tiuj^'ed  with  red<lisli-brown;  neek  bc'l'ore  with 
lines  niiu'h  less  distinct  and  pale-ashy. 

Total  length,  about  ten  to  ten  ami  a  half  inches;  wiuff,  si.\  to  si.\  and  a  half- 
tail,  two  and  a  half;   bill,  one  and  a  half;  tarsus,  two  inehes. 


ILtb.  —  Eastern  North  America;  western  V 

The  Conunou  Yellow-lnjjr.s  is  well  kiiowi 


1  oil  out-  coiist  as 
a  sjiring  uiid  iuttuiuii  vi.skor.  It  doos  not  pause;  lajn;  in  its 
iioi'tiicni  luiirratioii,  l)ut  piisscs  at  oiico  (o  its  hi-cudinn-Iionuj. 
Tliis  is  gt.MU'rally  iii  high  latitiidos:  there,  early  in  .Jiiikj,  its 
nest  is  huilt  and  its  younji;  are  reared.  I  am  uiian|iiaiiit('d 
with  its  breeding  iiabits  and  eggs,  and  can  (ind  no  de.serin- 
tiou  of  them  in  any  boolv  Ihtit  1  iiave  iiceess  to. 

Early  in  Sei)teml)er,  it  rettuns  to  New  England,  where  it 
frequents  the  nuiddy  flats  and  marshes  on  the  seaeotist,  and 
penetrates  into  the  interior.  It  is  also  sometimes  qiiKe 
abundant  in  the  I'resh-water  meadows  and  on  the  shores  of 
large  })onds.  I  have  killed  numbers  while  Snine-shooliii"-- 
and  they  are  almost  etpially  well-fhivored  with  that  biid. 
They  congregate  in  small  lloeks,  fly  rapidly,  uttering  a  loud, 
shrill  whistle,  which  being  imitated  by  the  (experienced 
sportsmtMi,  the  wlitjle  flock  is  decoyed  witiiin  shot;  iiml,  as 
they  fly  compactly,  tpiite  a  number  oCteii  fall  at  a  single  di.s- 
charge  of  the  gun. 

Like  the  preceding,  this  bird  is  fond  of  wading  about  in 
pools  of  water,  where  it  secures  for  its  food  larva.'  of  insects 
and  small  cru.staceans.  With  one  or  two  of  our  other 
Waders,  it  litis  the  peculiarity  of  kee|)iiig  its  wings  open 
and  elevated  after  alighting,  as  if  it  v.ere  uncertain  of  tlio 


TUB  SOUUBV  »ANI„.,M,„. 


"•«  l«...lH,„„.«.  „,  ,„„.  „        ;"J       IJ.ns.     Tl,i.,  i,  „„„  „, 


'ck  hcl'on.'  with 


six  unci  u  liall'; 


Gnu-.,  ''""•■"^•'■'"-'--•oi-Th.  (,«,,,.      . 


EHYACOPHILUS  SOLITAEIUS       /• 
Th6  Solitary  Sandpiper. 

nil         ,  "'"'■•■l.ll'irciv 

with  imm.w  fr,,,ov,.H.  ..!:,,„  ?'    "■'"'•"''■'"-'"■  ■'■'<'i'l<'r,(„,„hr(.«s,.,|.  i    ,, 

,""■::  '•'!'  ■■;■'■■■' rt.T.  u, r  ,,,;,;;:'■; '  ""■= ■  ',-<. ..,-,: 

:st;::,::;:::;;;;;:;- ;-"/ :;t;;i:;::;:;,v::;:;«"™:™; 

.,  ""''■^'"'"•""^••'I  "r  rniiii.sl,  |„s„v  „„  ,1,         .'•"'^:'""»";  <l"ills   l.nnv,„<l,-|,|.,,|, 

'--:::::":;t,:;':;::,!- r  t""=-^      ■■-" 

'---:::;.;r-:~         - 

■^"'"'•\iM,.rMa;   Mexico. 

''111!  Sditai'v  Siind, ,;,,,>,.  ; , 


458 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


and  streams  in  prct\'ronco  to  those  of  the  scacoast,  wlioro, 
running  about  with  great  a.-tivity,  it  busies  itself  in  search- 
ing for  tlio  larvic  of  various  aquatie  insects,  of  vvhicli  its 
food  principally  consists.  Like  the  succeeding  species,  it 
has  the  habit  of  nodding  its  head,  and  tipi)ing  up  its  bo.ly 
and  tail,  which  has  given  it  the  name  of  "Wagtail,"  or 
"Teetler."  Nuttall  sayH  that  it  is  seen  in  >hissa(!husetts 
only  at  the  counueneement  of  cold  weather.  1  have  fre- 
(piently  met  with  it,  both  on  our  seashores  and  in  the 
meadows  around  our  iivsh-water  ponds,  through  the  whole 
sunimer.  Several  pairs  reside  through  the  season  on  the 
borders  of  I'unkapoag  Pond,  in  Canton,  Mass.;  and  they 
undoubtedly  breed  there,  although  i  have  been  unable  to 
liiul  their  nest.  This  species  remains  with  us  until  late  in 
September.  When  Hushed,  it  rises  with  a  short,  sharp 
whistle,  dilTerent  from  that  of  the  Si)otted  Sandpii)er,  which 
it  resembles  in  almost  every  other  res[)eet. 

TlUN(iOIl)KS,  l5(>sAi-Ai!Ti:. 

Tringo!,k>,  I5..na.-.viiti:,  Sat^gio  di  una  dist.,  cto.  (18:31).     Clyi..  Tri„ya  I,;//,,,. 

liuciiit,  L.,  Gray.) 

ArliUs  Itnii;.  Lis  (18'22),  oOO.     Not  of  llliK>'r,  rrodronius  ( IMl ). 

rpiRT'inM.uliiae  ifroov^'A  to  tlm  tormi.ml  lourtli;  the  bill  tap.Tii.K  and  ratlwr 
ucutf  d.ft  of  moutli  onlv  in.Mi,.ratc;  li...  .•ulinrii  al.out  liv«-sixtl.s  tli.!  comi.ii.ssuiv; 
f..uthJr-  i.xtiiMin-  ralh.r  fu.tluT  on  si.lr  of  ioNNnjaw  tlian  upiMT,  111.'  fornuT  ivatli- 
inir  as  fur  a^  il..'  l-.'Kinninu  of  tl..>  nostrils;  tl.osi^  of  tl..'  .Iiin  to  alnmt  tli.ir  niiddl.s 
bill  sluirtcT  tban  the  lu'ud,  straif,'lit,  f^ual  to  the  tarsus,  whi.b  is  of  tl.o  l.nu'tli  "f 
,„i,ldle  toe  and  .law;  bare  part  of  tibia  half  the  tarsus:  out.r  toe  w,  l,h,.d  to  1m  M 
joint •  inn-r  ilHt  about  to  the  base;  tail  mueh  rounded;  more  tiian  hah  the  wui-. 


f.V'i 


TRINGOIDES   MACULARIUS.  —  Hrny. 
The  Spotted  Sardpiper. 
Trlm/n  m.ta.hrw,  I.inna.us.     Syst.  Nat..  1.  (IVOr,)  21;..     Wils.  Ani.  Oru.,  VII. 

Totn,n.s   mnn.hnu,,    Nuttall.      Man.,    II.    (mi)   102.     And.   ihn.    I.m^.,    1\. 
(1^38)  81.     //'.,  Hirds  Am.,  V.  (.'*42)  303. 
TniiijmiUs  m<trul(iriu$,  (iray,  p'liera. 

l)i;s(i!ifrii>N. 
Small;  bill  ratluT  loiiger  than  the  lu'a.l,  straight,  slender;  long  grooves  in  both 
raaiulibles;  >vinK  rather  long,  pointed;   tail  medium,  rounded;   legs  rather  long; 


!?P' 


'W 


i 


:t.    I 


'ypu  TriiKjn  lii/iM- 


lower  third  of  tlio 


THE  SPOTTKD   SANDPIPER. 


'"'■ill   llllkfd;    tops   I„ 


469 


""  -  .on.,....,.,.,  ,i„  ,,«  „,,,,;,;  ;^^  "■;  ^'--l.  ;.n.l  fl„t,oned  un.|«meath. 

"  HIV..,,   |„s„...;   p,-i,„„H..,s  sli,.h,|v  ,1,  „•,'"'"'"""■"  "l"ill«l'i-.nv„  ,1,1, 
ioc,  n,,,,„,,.,,^,„,„^.  .^.^  i^^^^^i  K.v,  b,ll  u.|l„„,.|,..,,„„^  ,(,,,,„,,  ,^.^,^  ,  _^^^^^_^; 

''''''•'"'■'"'^'''•"•^  ^••'••'' ■^--.  On.,.,,,  K,,,..,p,,. 

«o::;:;in;;:;ri;:::;;;;n;;::;:::r'jJrr^ 

til"  .s|.L.cii.s  „„,v  |„,r,„.„   ,„      ,,     "    ""  •^"''  l'.ngltt„d  a„ 

rctiicl  ,i„.l  »edml,!,|  ,,11,1,,,      .f  ,    .""'  f  '"  "'<=  "loic 

al.u„.  tho  lirst  ^v,,k  i„   .,„il  ■   „  "''  ''"'"  "'"  ■"'"""' 

»«m  c„„„„c.„ce.s  Ihe  .luliH  of  '"'' '"f"""*-'  "'to  |.ai«,  i, 

!"■'"-- f,„.  a a/::'^:   :;'r:;;.;j;  ■■■-^'■-t-.o 

liitLMior;  a,i,l    1    1,,,,,.  |;,,„„,   ■,  ".'""''»'  'o  oiiii   „,   |1„, 

"■■  i"  the  ,„a,..si„..s  .,v  .j^z'  ,r  7  ';'"'•■  '^'^ "• 

;:y  -tn„  ,„„„|, .,,  „„„,„„„,,  ,„      ,;      -    '^      0  «a,„ly  .,,,1, 

eji'gs,   uhid,    slio    u.lj.ists   with    ti.  ;  ,  '    ^">'^    '•^•"" 

lnih.nMl.^,nU.     :^^Z  ""^^   ends    ..gother 

J"ll""-l'-l-ir  c„l,„-,  ,„a,.k„,,  „,„,   l,llc"^.„        ■"■""'  " 

•■'■  ™'l  -■ .'".-ko,.  at  tl„.i..  .„""'""■:,  "' 

a.-.;  .s„„H,.,i„,,,  conllm.nt.     ().,.a.i„,,r|K  ,  '"  "'"^ 

' ■  ■>" t ,.,. „„a.,;;  ',::;:;; :.,"■■; """■" "^"■'^"■■ 

J  uiiiLiciii  locciiuics  oxluUt  u  varia- 


»;t 


1| 


F^f 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT.3) 


/ 


O 


6/      f  %  . 


4 


1.0 


I.I 


|M 

3.2 


1^ 
1^   

2  m 


||M 

2.0 


1.8 


1.25      1.4      1.6 

■• 

6" 

► 

Sciences 
Corporaiion 


« 


'I 


^ 


i\ 


^\ 


lV 


^ 


<J 


6^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  SVREET 

WEBSTiK,N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


460 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


tion  of  size  from  1.40  by  1  inch  to  1.26  by  .95  inch.  I  can 
see  no  marked  peculiarity  in  any  series  of  specimens,  except- 
ing that  those  collected  in  the  interior  of  Maine  average 
a  little  larger  than  those  from  the  seacoast. 

The  flight  of  the  Spotted  Sandpiper  is  generally  low,  its 
wings  being  kept  bent  at  an  angle  beneath  its  body.  It  has 
a  peculiar  note,  like  peet-weet,  peet-iveet,  easily  recognized. 

ACTITURUS,  Bonaparte. 

ActUunis,  BoKAPARTE,  Saggio,  etc.,  (1831).     (Type   Tringa  Bartramia,\\\\. 

son.) 

Upper  mandible  grooved  laterally  to  within  the  terminal  fourth,  the  lower  not 
quite  so  far;  culmen  concave  to  near  the  tip,  where  it  is  slightly  decurvcd;  gonys 
straight;  mouth  deeply  cleft,  almost  as  fiir  back  as  the  anterior  canthus;  the  culmen 
only  about  two-thirds  the  commissure,  shorter  than  the  head  or  tarsus,  and  about 
equal  to  middle  toe  without  claw;  feathers  extending  much  further  forward  on  tlie 
upper  jaw  than  on  the  lower,  although  those  of  chin  reach  nearly  to  end  of  nostrils; 
tarsus  one  and  a  half  times  middle  toe  and  claw;  the  bare  part  of  tibia  not  quite 
equal  to  the  middle  toe  above;  outer  toe  united  at  base  as  far  as  first  joint;  web  of 
inner  toe  very  basal;  tail  long,  graduated,  more  than  half  the  wings. 

ACTITUEUS    BAETEAMIUS.  —  Bonaparte. 
The  Upland  Plover ;  Bartram's  Sandpiper ;  Field  Plover. 

Tringa  Bartramia,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  VIL  (1813)  63.    Aud.  Birds  Amer.,  V. 

(1842)  248. 

Tutnnus  Barti-amim,  Audubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1S38)  24. 
Tiin(/a(EuUga)  Bartramia, 'KuttaW.    Man.,  II.  (1834)  168. 

Description. 
Bill  about  as  long  as  the  head,  rather  wide  and  flattened  at  base,  curved  at  the 
tip;  nostril  with  a  large  membrane;  nasal  groove  long;  wing  long;  tail  long  for  this 
group;  legs  moderate  or  rather  long;  lower  half  of  the  tibia  naked;  toes  moderate, 
the  outer  and  middle  toe  united  by  a  membrane,  inner  and  middle  free  to  the  base, 
hind  toe  small;  general  color  of  the  upper  parts  brownish-black,  with  a  greenish  lus- 
tre, and  with  the  feathers  edged  with  asl.y-wliite  and  yellowish,  tlie  latter  especially 
on  the  wing  coverts;  lower  part  of  the  back,  rump,  and  u|iper  tail  coverts,  brownisii- 
bluck;  lateral  coverts  of  the  tail  yellowish-white,  with  arrow-heads  and  invgiiiar 
spots  of  black;  wide  stripe  over  the  eye,  and  entire  under  parts  very  pale  yellowish- 
white,  nearlv  pure-white  on  the  abdomen;  neck  before  with  numerous  longitudinal 
lines  of  brownish-black;  breast  and  sides  with  waved  and  pointed  transverse  narrow 
bands  of  the  same;  axillary  feathers  and  under  wing  coverts  pure-white,  willi  nume- 
rous nearly  regular  transverse  narrow  bands  of  black:  quills  brownish-black,  with 
numerous  transverse  bands  of  white  on  their  inner  webs,  very  consjiicuous  on  U:-, 
under  surface  of  the  wing;  shaft  of  first  primary  white;  middle  feathers  of  the  tail 


inch.    I  can 

nens,  except- 
aine  average 

rally  low,  its 
)ody.  It  has 
■ecognized. 


t  Bartramia,  Wil- 

rth,  the  lower  not 
:  decurvcd ;  gonj's 
ntlius;  the  culmcn 
tarsus,  and  about 
iier  forward  on  tlie 
to  end  of  nostrils; 
t  of  tibia  not  quite 
first  joint;  web  of 
igs. 


•lover. 

d.  Birds  Amer.,  V. 


jase,  curved  at  the 
fj;  tail  long  for  this 
;cd;  toes  moderate, 
le  free  to  the  base, 
with  a  greenish  lus- 
lie  latter  especially 
1  coverts,  brownisii- 
icads  and  irregular 
■ery  pale  yellowish- 
nerous  longitudinal 
I  transverse  narrow 
3-whit(',  with  nunie- 
mwnish-black,  with 
conspicuous  or.  !!:•* 
feathers  of  the  tail 


»   '    ' 


M 


■"iml 


400 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


lion  of  Aii^e  iroui  1.4U  uy  i  luch  s.u  i.--.'  I7  •-)•;  n-  !•.  ^  ■ -•■ 
doe  uo  marked  iieculiarity  '  ■  •  '>^  soriesof  speciraeuSjexcei.t- 
ing  that  tbo,.;o  (■rn.Tf>'il     .  p.>t<;!-i'>r  of  Main«  avevaL^o 

a    lii'l''    !:!■:  '■ 

13  general  1> 
.  buioath  its  1^-' 


I  ',,\icr  WMMiMv  it:v;'<-vtu  ii.,-jMily  U/  ttitUm  ^i.c  trri:ri,„ 

1  lili    ilhol-l    "   V  J    -Ii'^'l  ■    ■■■•     '  i'mII'   .      MU'.      .i   "  ii_i     ;i'>ii    111.-    ..    .. 

c.jua!  to  miildlo  tot  withrtul  claw;  t.-atlitrs  extiruiii)};  "lucii 
upj*r  ja\^  ttiaii  on  tUe  lower.  altlii"t-!i  those  oi'  chiti  rencli  u- 
t.,P^,,j  f,;,r.  und  a  h;\lf  tis'U-!  riiiddle  loe  am!  .^''■-:  the  hv 
c.(uai  ^    tiJC  middle  Uj-i  iiIa;'  *  ,  outer  toi-  iir.. 
.,,  r  too  vei7  basal;  taiHongjgradnat'i!  1 

ACTITimUS    BAETi:  AMIUS,  •    J'o^Jjtwrtfl. 
Ttta  Upland  Plover;  Bartram'a  Sandpiper;  F:ald  f" 
'  '/•ft/riirf,  Wil»<»n.     Ami.  (.'  ' 


i1     1 


f^'un:"!?, 


Mali-,  !i 
■     -       ■    and  flail 


r  jjart?  In 


;.■"""'■■'"  '""> "k-  y'WW,,. 'a  „,/„„,.     orav 

^W  so.s  S,M,,.,,   (;„„;„„.„  „^.,,,„,.      ,..,„^,.-_^,^ 

I  i'l...    .,,.  l-U.,  1  |.l„v..r,  .|....,„n„  «,....„,„„„.     i;„„,,,,,f , 


II  ■M 


THE  UPLAND   PLOVER. 


461 


«nmn  grconish-brown  as  the  back  vith  i™„„  i         j  . 

black,  outer  feathers  pa  reMhl.Tir  " ,'"'  '"'""^'=^'  ''""^^"^«  '"">''«  "^ 
several  in-egular  trans've  Jbm  a  ,  'i::^";,:;'  ''''''  ^""  -"''«'  «"'>  with 
bill  greeni^h-yeliow,  with  the  undoTmllZ.         T        ''"•°^^-'"^«"  "^  ''In'-k, 

tip  b,-o.:.sh.b,ack,  w.  )i«bt-yS:r;:^tk;r;:xr'^  ''^'''' '-  ''-> 

Total  length,  about  twelve  inches;  wiuif.  six  and  a  l,>.lf.    '  -i  ». 

IM.  -  Kastern  North  America,  South  Amrn;:,  ,.;.':  1'  '""'  "'^^"  ""^  "^  "»'^- 

da.,t:;?;";:^j;::r:::;:::,';;s^^;"  ';;;At-a"tiMhis  is  the  .ost  abu„. 

prefers  plains  and  cnUivLed  «e.ds  li^afolof  ^  ^0^^^" li"''^'^:'  I'"  '''' 
.n  numbers  on  account  of  the  extension  of  onlv. !  V  ""' '''''"'^'''^'l 

country.  On  the  contrary,  it  app  a  "to  be  n  a  T  ""'  '"t  ""'""""  "^  ">« 
rears  its  young  i„  the  fields'of  grTZd  grl^rthe  T  '"  '^'  "'""  ''"'''  "^"^ 
of  the  country.  ^^  "  "'^  "'*'''  populous  rural  districts 

Tliis  bird,  commonly  known  as  the  "  Upland  Plover  "  is 
not  abundant  in  New  England  as  a  s.immer  resident '    I 

the  10th  of  April.     It  is  less  aquatic  than  most  of  the 
other  species  in  this  order,  and  frequents   old   pastures 
stubble  fields,  and  cornfields,  in  preference  to  meadows  a"' 
tlats.     It  begins  to  nest  about  the  first  week  in  May     It  is 
quite  shy  at  all  times,  and  difficult  of  approach,  and  I  have 
spent  half  a  day  m  one  pasture  before  I  could  find  the  nesf 
both  old  birds  keeping  up  their  shrill  whistle,  and  flyinc^ 
abou   me  always  out  of  gunshot.     The  nest  is  placed  in  a 
slight  hollow  m  the  ground,  and  is  constructed  of  a  few 
h3ose   straws  and  leaves,  arranged  in  a  circular  manner 
Ihe  eggs  are  four  in  number,  sometimes  three.     They  are 
more  ovoidal  in  form  than  most  of  our  other  Waders'  eg^s 
and  almost  exactly  resemble  those  of  the  Woodcock   bu^ 
average  considerably  larger ;  varying  from  1.92  by  l.Sl'inch 
(from  Wisconsin)  to  1.70  by  1.25  (from  Massachusetts). 
Ihe  primary  color  of  some  specimens  is  a  buff,  while  others 
are  of  a  creamy-drab:  they  are  marked  with  spots  of  two 
shades  of  brown,  and  obscure  spots  of  lilac. 

By  the  middle  of  August,  and  from  then  until  late  in 
September,  these  Plovers  assemble  in  small  flocks  of  ei-Wit 
or  ten  individuals.  They  then  frequent  hilly  pastures,  both 
on  the  seacoast  and  in  the  interior,  where  they  feed  on 


ff?i 


.11 

ill 


■J."".  .S;^ 


-  -Afiftm*T- 


lltM 


402 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


grasshoppers,  crickets,  grains,  and  socda.  Tiioy  arc  then  iu 
good  condition,  and  of  delicate  flavor  on  tlie  tuhlo,  and  are 
mncli  pnrsned  by  sportsmen  ;  but,  as  they  are  swil't-flying 
birds,  and  very  shy,  it  requires  a  more  tlian  ordinary  shot  to 
bag  many  of  tliem. 

TUYNGITi:S,  Cabanis. 

Triiii/ites,  Caiianis,  Jour,  fiir  Orn.  (1S5G),  418.  (Type  Triiir/n  riifincens. 
Vieillot.) 

Upjwr  m.nndililo  groovrd  (o  about  tlie  torniiiial  fourth;  tin;  lower  not  (|uitn  so 
far;  culMicn  and  gonys  about  stiaif;ht;  mouth  (U't'ply  ilct't  more  tlum  hall'-\va\'  to 
the  eye ;  tlie  eulnien  about  two-tliirds  the  eonnnissure ;  eulincn  niueh  shorter  than  the 
head,  and  about  equal  to  middle  too  without  daw;  tar.-<us  about  one  and  one-sixth 
as  lon^f  as  middle  toe  and  ehnv;  bare  part  of  tibia  decidedly  shorter  than  middle  toe 
without  claw;  toes  elelt  to  the  base,  with  only  a  very  rudiuiontMry  web;  uppiT  jaw 
feathered  to  the  nostrils;  the  side  of  the  lower  and  beneath  feathered  niueh  further, 
or  to  the  end  of  the  nostrils;  the  interspace  of  the  rami  entirely  tilled;  tail  some- 
wliat  graduated,  not  half  the  winy. 

TEYNGITES    EDFESCENS.  —  Cnhnius. 

The  Buff-breasted  Sandpiper, 

Tringa  rvfescevs,  Nuttall.  ]\Ian.,  IL  (1834)  113.  And.  Orn.  Biog.,  IIL  (lS3o) 
451.     Jl)..  liirds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  204. 

I>KSCItIPTION. 

Bill  about  the  length  of  the  head,  straight,  eomprossed,  narrow  at  the  point; 
nasal  groove  long;  wings  very  long;  tirst  ipiill  longest;  tertiaries  ratlu'r  shorter; 
tad  nuiderate  orlongerthan  usual  in  this  group;  legs  rather  long;  lower  third  of  the 
tibia  naked;  toes  free  at  base,  flattened  underneath,  and  slightly  margined;  hind 
toe  small;  upper  parts  pale  and  dull  ashy-brown  with  a  yellowish  tinge;  every 
feather  with  a  large  central,  lanceolate,  erescent-shajied,  or  oblong  spot  of  black, 
frequently  with  a  glossy-green  tinge,  es|)ecially  (ui  the  back  and  shorter  tertiaries; 
under  parts  light  yellowish-n-d,  or  pale-fawn  color;  many  feathers  tipped  with  white, 
ami  paler  on  the  flanks  and  abdomen,  on  the  breast  with  partially  concealed  small 
spots  of  black;  axillary  feathers  white;  quills  with  their  outer  webs  light-brown, 
inner  webs  ashy-white,  marbled  with  black  and  narrowly  tipped  with  whitt^•  middle 
tail  feathers  brownish-black;  outer  feathers  lighter,  with  transverse  waved  lines  of 
black,  and  tipped  with  white;  bill  black;  legs  greenish-yellow;  iris  hazel. 

Total  length,  se\on  and  a  half  to  eight  inches;  wings,  five  and  a  half;  tail, 
three;  bill,  from  gape,  one;  tarsus,  one  and  a  (puirter  inches. 

Ildb. — All  of  North  Anu'rica.  South  America,  F.uroiic. 

This  is  a  little  !)ird  of  rather  peculiar  style  of  I'orm,  and  of  remarkable  and  hand- 
some plumage.  Its  relationship  appears  to  be  to  the  preceding  well-known  species. 
Both  this  and  the  jjreceding  bird  more  habitually  frequent  plains  and  other  dry 
localities  than  any  of  the  true  Sandpipers. 


Biog.,  III.  (1S35) 


THE  MARBLED  GODWlT.  ^gg 

i™..  it,  „„,.,i„,,„  h,«ii„K.,  i«   1.   " ;  '"  '•*"■ s 

". »pHn,; ■„,. it „.„,,;;   ■„v«Ne:i;:v7"°™ 

""illicrn  (liKlit      or  if,  I J  r       , ',  ^<"' '■"Sl'mJ  m  its 

woa,.ei,„„ra„      ZZu^^J. '"''.  "°''>  "»''«'•  *<=•• 

al.out  the  arctic  sea    aT he  '    '        ' ' ""'  "'•■"  ''  '"■™'1» 

|i.-.  can.  ,v„,„t,r;:,tttt::::j:i::-°i;''^» ';■■•' 

Jiahits  wluttcvor.  "oiniiig  ot  its  brooding 

In  tliG  autumn,  wliilo  wi'tli  na    u   i 

.ty,  »l,„,-o  it  i»  !<„„«,,  as  „„o  of  tl,e..a.at^i  1"'™'"- 
gun.iors.     It  feels  „p„„  grassLopner,  a  "d  „         • 

cahinet  preservation,  a't  thatrl . '  i  '1  .^T^^  ,■',  ■■- 
sibihty.  '       ^i""osc  an  impos- 


Section  LiMosE^. 
Hill  l.mpcr  than  tho  tarsus,  ourvinf;  sli|,rl„iv 


-*- ■"' *-**r;:i:::;-r^:,j 


thickciii'il;    luitli   lUii 

very  slmrt,  „ot  extemling  beyo.ul  (1,0  base  of  c»l 


I.  on. 


LIMOSA,  BiiissoN. 

Limosn,  Rnissox,  Orn.  (17601     rrvn„  e^  ;         >■ 

Bill  lengthenod.  exceot  i  ,7  he  t     T      IT  ^"""'"^  ^''^ 

^  as  the  upper;  ^^^'.0^  v  It  a^^'        ''''"'"'"' '  '"'^ '"-•  al-nost  a 

hc..ore„„dbehi„d,re,ioui;;d,  V    LrTr'"    ',""'"  """  '^""•^^■"^''  ■'-"^"'«' 
and  outer  toes;  taH  short     v  '  '        '"'  '"'■°"'  '"'^'"'"•'""^  >^'-''^^-«^'"  ">e  ">iddle 


jMl! 

,i 

■P''' 

! 

1 

1 

,'5 

LIMOSA   FEDOA.- (Z;n«.)  Ord. 
The  Marbled  Godwit. 
Sro/o;,.y,..W,  Wi,,,„.    Am.  Orn.,  VII.  (1813)  30 
X»«o,a /.KNuttall.    Man.,  II.  (is. i)  173.    lud 


V.  5SiO. 


Orn.  Biog.,  III.  (I835)  287; 


MiM 


i   ,im:miAi 


I 


4G4 


OUNITHOLOCJY   AND   OOLOGY. 


DnHntll'TION. 

Bill  lonp,  curved  iipwnnls;  both  nmiidilili's  ^^roovcd ;  wiiiKsloujj;  tail  short;  Ipjjn 
Ioiik:  tibiii  witli  \tn  lower  half  niikt'd:  toes  rather  short,  nmr^'iiied  uikI  thittencd  under- 
lieatli;  the  outer  and  uiiildle  toes  united  hv  a  rather  lar;;!^  ineiulirane;  entire  upinT 
parls  variegated  with  hrowiiish-hlaek  and  |)ale-re<ldish,  the  t'oriner  disimsi'd  in  irref,qi- 
lar  and  eontluent  hands,  and  the  latter  in  spots  and  iniperfecf  hands;  in  uiauv  npeei- 
inens  the  bluik  color  predoniinatinf;  on  tlit'  hack,  and  tiu'  pale-red  on  the  rinnp  and 
upper  tail  coverts;  iiiidor  parts  pale-rut'ous,  with  transverse  lines  of  hrownish-hlaik 
on  the  l)reast  and  sides;  under  w'm^  coverts  and  axillaries  darkiT  rufous;  outer 
wehs  of  primaries  dark-hrown,  inner  wehs  lifiht-nifoiis;  secondaries  li),'ht-rul'ons; 
tail  li;,'ht-nifous,  with  transverse  hars  of  hrownish-hlaek;  bill  palu-ytdlowisli,  red  at 
base,  brownish-black  at  the  end;  le/{s  asliy-hlaek. 

Total  length,  about  eife'hteen  inches;  wiuj;,  nine;  tail,  three  and  a  half;  bill,  four 
to  five;  tarsus,  thre(!  inches;  iris,  brown. 

//lib.  —  Kutire  temperate  rejjiona  of  North  America;  South  Amerioa. 

A  larfxi'  and  handsome  shore  bird,  well  known  to  si)orlsinen  as  the  (iodwit,  and  a 
great  favorite  for  shooting.  From  the  collections  of  the  surveying  expeditions,  it 
appears  to  be  equally  abundant  in  the  interior  and  on  the  I'acilic  as  on  the  eastern 
coast  of  the  United  States. 

It  is  only  in  tlio  spriiifji;  and  autuinn  migrations  that  tlio 
Grreat  Marhlod  Godwit  is  found  in  New  En<>land  ;  and  at 
those  times  it  makes  only  a  short  stay,  particularly  in  the 
spring. 

They  arrive  from  the  south  early  in  .May,  and  pass  to  the 
most  northern  countries,  where  they  j)ass  the  season  of 
incuhation. 

Of  their  breodinj?  habits  I  am  ignorant,  and  I  liave  no 
eggs  in  my  collection  to  give  a  th'scription  here. 

In  the  autumn,  even  as  early  as  the  middle  of  Augnst, 
flocks  of  ten  or  a  dozen  birds  appear  in  the  marshes  on  tlie 
scacoast  of  Massachusetts  ;  and,  these  flocks  uniting  their 
numl)er.s,  sometimes  as  many  as  a  huiulred  birds  are  Ibiuid 
together.  They  are  called  by  our  sportsmen  "  Dough  "  or 
"  Doe  "  Birds  ;  and,  as  they  are  in  good  condition  and  well 
flavored,  tliey  are  in  great  repute,  and  are  hunted  with  great 
activity.  The  gunners,  using  decoys,  conceal  themselves  in 
the  manner  described  in  the  account  of  the  Golden  Plover 
on  a  preceding  page,  and  secure  great  numbers.  They  meet 
with  a  ready  sale  in  our  markets,  at  very  remunerative 
prices ;  and  I  have  known  of  two  gunners  realizing  sixty 
dollars  as  the  proceeds  of  one  day's  shooting. 


'-v: 


TTK    niJDso.NTAN   GODWIT. 


ml  a  half;  bill,  four 


At  tills  sonsoti,  tli(.s(«  |,;,.,i„ 
^'"••'0  diir.Mvnt  spocios  """  •"  ^'"^'««  ^'-el^s,  t^vo  or 

"Y     till)     *'()fli         f     t! 

Tho  Hudsonian  Godwit 

"""'"■"-■'"■ ''---^■-":  T'i,r.,r:;^  S^; -M,..,  ^ 

'""""'"  "•  '"■'  -  •  '■•"■^  —.4™!;;  :'*;  Z:^'  ""■ "-  "^  "■- 

'"'"to  a.Hl  clu»,,e.e,istie       I    "' '      """''  •""'  '""'  a"  its 

30 


«  !,         ;; 


It  rill 


ii, 


486  OUNITIIOLOUV   AND   OOLOQY. 


NUMKNIUS,  LiNN«u». 

A'um^niMn,  I.iNN.KUn.  Syst.  Nat.  (1740).  (Type  Senhpax  nrifitah,!..) 
Lens  covcrcil  anftTii)rly  witli  traiiHvcrHo  sciiti'llii-,  laterally  anil  lirhiiid  with  mimll 
hnxagoiiftl  Hcali'«;  bill  very  loii)^,  fxccfilliiK  tlic  tiliia,  and  iiirvcil  downwards  for 
tlio  terminal  hall';  tlio  culincn  roinidcd;  tip  of  hill  cxpaiuhd  laterally,  and  eluh- 
gliapod;  grooves  of  bill  not  reaebinj,'  beyond  the  middle;  tertiala  as  long  as  pri- 
murius. 

NUMENIUS  LONGIROSTRIS.—  WiUmt. 

The  Long-billed  Curlew;  Sickle-bill  Curlew. 

Numeniut  hmylmalrh,\V\hon.     Am.  Orn.,  VIll.  (1H14)  24.     Nutt.  Mnn.,  II. 

(1834)  88.    And.  Urn.  Uiog.,  HI.  (183G)  240;   V.  087.     Jb.,  Hirds  Am.,  VI.  (1843) 

86. 

DEsraii'TioN. 

The  largest  American  species  of  this  genus;  bill  very  long,  muili  curved;  upper 
mandible  longer  than  the  under,  somewhat  knobbed  at  tlu^  tip;  wing  riither  long; 
legs  moderate;  toes  united  at  base;  entire  upper  i>arts  pale-rut' us,  tinged  with 
ashy;  every  feather  with  transverse  ond  conlluent  baiuls  of  brownish-blaek,  most 
numerous  and  predominating  on  the  back  and  scapulars;  secondary  i|uiils,  uiulcr 
wing  coverts,  and  axillaries,  bright-rufous;  prinuiries  with  their  outer  webs  brownish- 
black,  and  their  inner  webs  rufous,  with  transverse  bands  of  black ;  uiuler  parts 
jiale-rufous,  with  longitudiiuil  lines  of  black  on  the  neck  and  sides;  tail  rufous, 
tinged  with  ashy,  transversely  barred  with  brownish-black;  bill  brownish-black; 
base  of  under  nuuulible  reddish-yellow;  legs  bluish-brown;  speciimns  vary  to  some 
extent  in  the  shade  of  the  rufous  color  of  the  plumage,  and  very  mueli  in  the  length 
of  the  bill;  the  rufous  color  is  probably  more  distinct  in  the  young;  iris  hazel. 

Total  length,  about  twenty-live  inches;  wing,  ten  to  eleven;  tail,  four;  bill,  five 
to  eight;  tarsus,  two  and  a  quarter  inches. 

jlab.  —  The  entire  temperate  regions  of  North  America. 

This  species  is  not  very  abundant  on  our  coast  in  the 
spring  and  autumn.  Wilson,  in  describing  its  habits, 
says, — 

"  Like  the  preceding,  this  bird  is  an  inliabitiint  of  marshes  iii  the 
vicinity  of  the  sea.  It  is  also  found  in  the  interior,  where,  from 
its  long  bill,  and  loud,  whistling  note,  it  is  generally  known. 

"  The  Curlews  appear  in  the  salt  marshes  of  New  Jersey  about 
the  middle  of  May,  on  their  way  to  the  north ;  and  in  September, 
on  their  return  from  their  breeding-places.  Their  food  consists 
chiefly  of  small  crabs,  which  they  are  very  dexterous  at  probing 
for,  and  pulling  out  of  the  holes  with  their  long  bills ;  they  also 
feed  on  those  small  sea-snails  so  abundant  in  the  marshes,  and  on 


vanou,  worms  u,„i  i„«e,t^     ^, 

l.«rri.,..,  f.v,,„.,,,i    ,  ,,,„       ;         '<T  «ro  likowine  fond  of  l,r,u,.,,,,. 

-  "'''^h  the,  g<,  ver,  fi.,    ,        ,  'j^""'^  '"  «--!.  of  tlu/^   " 

:""•'  ';y«  ^Jextcrous  i,„it,uion  of   2  '^^  ""^"' '"'"'' ^''i«tlin. 

""-  ''«  e„,i,..,l  wirl.ia  ^„n.|..  ?  "''"''^  "^'^  n,uy  some 

«•">  ^'.-eat  havoc  a.ao,.,,  thou,."      '    ""  ''"'  ™-^«  repoated  shotl 

Tho  c,.gs  of  tho  Long-l.il,,,,  Cur,o^v  -u-o  r       • 
»^^'-      lla.y  aro  pyri,;„,„   j,,  '  '«^^  ' ''o  four  in  num- 

•e«on.b,o    t,.o   eggs   of    tl.o     V  ,t'    ',  ?''   ^''"^^   «-^«^ctly 

Along  tlie  sJiores  nf  h.-, 

"I'l«.«  i„  flock,  „r  ,i,,„^,„      j';;"'"'""':"!  (light,  wl.oro  ie 
"'"•  «l.o,-c.|,i,,l,,  i,  i,  „,,„  l'''  y-   .'l"'l  ""'"y  othc-s  of 

"-  .-rkcta  w„o..o  it  i,  o^potaLtL'"""''  """""  <■"  « 


"""™  Hraso»,cr8.-z„«„. 


kcolopax  borenhs,  Wilson      a 
(1835)283;  V.  589.     76    Mjr  ^^'""•."•(1834)07.     And    A        «• 

S      II  I'Ksruii'TioN 

^LOs,   tail  browiiish-bluck,  with 


).      ' 


Ml 


•k". 


m 


"^-n-^' 


.km 


rM: 


468 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


transverse  bars  of  pnle  asli>-hrown;  bill  brownish -blaclt ,  base  of  lower  mandible 
reddish-v.ilow;  legs  greenish-brown;  specimens  vary  in  the  shade  of  the  ligliter 
colors  of  the  plumage  and  in  the  length  of  the  bill;  iris  brown. 

Smaller,  and  with  the  colors  difterent  fVom  the  preceding.  This  bird  is  repre- 
sented as  abundant  in  .he  northern  regions  of  this  continent,  but  is  much  less 
frequent  in  the  United  States  than  the  preceding. 

Total  length,  about  eighteen  inches;  wing,  nine;  tail,  four;  bill,  three  to  four; 
tarsus,  two  and  a  quarter  inches. 

//aft.  — Atlantic  and  Pacific  coasts  of  North  America;    California  (Mr.  Cns- 

sidy). 

This  species  is  rare  in  New  England.  I  have  never  met 
with  it  alive,  and  will  have  to  depend  upon  the  observations 
cf  otlicrs.     Wilson  says, — 

"The  Shcrt-billed  Curlew  arrives  in  Inrge  floo,-.s  on  the  seacoast 
of  New  Jersey  early  in  May,  from  the  South ;  frequents  the  salt 
marshes,  muddy  shores,  and  inlets,  feeding  on  small  worms  and 
minute  shell-fish.  They  are  most  commonly  seen  on  mud-flats  at  low 
water,  in  couipany  with  various  otlier  Waders  ;  and,  at  high  water, 
roam  along  the  marshes.  They  fiy  high,  and  with  great  rapidity. 
A  few  are  seen  in  June,  and  as  late  as  the  beginning  of  July,  when 
they  generally  move  ofF  toward  the  North.  Their  appearance  on 
these^'occasions  is  very  interesting:  they  collect  together  from  the 
marshes,  as  if  by  premeditated  design,  rise  to  a  great  lieight  in 
the  air,  usually  an  hour  before  sunset ;  and,  forming  in  one  vast 
line,  keep  up  a  constant  whistling  on  their  wav  to  the  north,  as 
if  conversing  with  one  another  to  render  the  journey  more  agree- 
able." 

Nuttall  says, — 

"  From  the  middle  of  August  to  the  beginning  of  September, 
they  arrive  in  the  vicinity  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  other  parts  of 
New  Entdanrl,  froqiicr.ting  the  pastures  as  well  as  marshes,  and 
fatten  on  "grasshoppers  and  berries  till  the  time  of  their  departure, 
about  the  close  of  September." 

I  know  notlnng  of  the  breeding  habits  of  this  species, 
and  can  give  no  descripti'^ii  of  the  nest  and  eggs  in  this 
volume. 


of  this  species, 


THE  ESQUIMAUX  CURLEW. 

NUMENID8  BOEEAWS^Xa/W 
The  Esquimaux  Curlew. 


469 


«0;  V.500.     y^.,Bi4^r!Vr.'X;45^    ''^"^-    ^"^'  «™-  Biog..III.(lS35) 

nr      .  I^ESCIIIITION. 

iMiioh  smaller  than  eiflinr  r,f  n,„ 

t'ntn-cM,pperpart8browui.h-bIac.k  .J     hU!    !  ,''"^/  ""'  ''''"'■*'•  '<*'  n.,„In-a,e- 

«x.llar,es  light-ruf„„s,  vnth  transverse"  ti,,;   If  !  ,"""'■■■""'«  "'^"'^  ""^ 

-Inte,  tn,ged  with  rufou.,  with  longitXa  '1  ?•"'"''''"''  """^''-  ^^'^^  ''""- 
neck  and  breast,  and  transverse  swl 'o  ."T  ''"'?' '""'''^''-"''''^•^  ""  »'- 
coverts,  tail  ashy-brown,  with  transfer  elm /.n  ""  7  '''''  """  """-  f"" 
black;   base  of  under  mandible  ye)Io  v     le!  t.       rr"'"''-'^'"''^'  "^'"  •""-i^''- 

Total  length,  about  thirteen  and  a  hal    SLr"'         """ '  '"'  ""'-k-l-nnvn. 
fOree;  bill,  two  and  a  quarter  to  'wo  a/d "         .  7"^' "«'''  «""  Muarter;  tail, 
"'c''es-  """^  "^  ''■'"'  ''"•sus,  one  and  three-quarters 

This  small  and  intercstiuff  Curlnw  ;«  .„      i 

S...0., ..  i»  ,„,,  ,„■„,  ,„  ,„/„'2  ^".  ■  ™;*  •  "j"!  .'  n....s.  fn  ,„.  u„„„, 

.i.ou-  appearance  b,  the  la  ,  k  i,  1;  n"  7""^  '""''° 
.nost  northon,  sections,  v.l.e,:  '/  ,t  '';,"  r'  '! '"" 
l.«e  about  the  fi,.t  week  i„  September  '"""•" 

Says  Nuttall,  "On  tl,e   13tl,  nf  J„„;    ig,,    j,      „.  , 
ardson  discovered  oue  of  tbcsc  C,,2        ■„   '  "'"^''• 

.-.  a  sbort  distance  fZ  ,   '     ;.       r,,"""""^"^'^'  «'- 
ground,  and  tbcn  stopped  to    v.  ,'b   H        *=  ■"""'  '°  "'" 

~^s^::r:b.i^::r-?--~»^^ 
-ti:et:::;:^:;:;:-;;^:2:::'i:-"''-,abi.s 

i.of ;  .:ar;;:;r:rsS::i7:^t;::;:T;«- 
.» i-d,  ,.escn>b,in«  tbe  .bijtiin^  ;;:n;:::ii;r"of"z 


T'    I    'f 


M,'! 


h   ' 


I  I 


1'  uU 


Ui 


470 


ORNITHOLOOY  AND   OOLOGY. 


word  bee-bee.  On  their  arrival  from  the  North,  thoy  are 
very  fat,  plump,  and  well  flavored,  and  included,  like  the 
preceding  and  the  Marbled  Godwit,  under  the  general  name 
o{  Doe-birds :  they  are  sought  out  by  epicures,  and  enhance 
the  value  of  a  table  entertainment."  They  frequent  the 
marslies  and  adjoining  pastures,  wh.erc  they  feed  much  upon 
grasshoppers  and  other  insects  and  earthworms,  which  they 
collect  principally  towards  evening,  or  early  ui  the  morning. 


Tribe  Paludicol^.* 

Species  living  in  marshes,  with  elevated  bodies,  much  compressed  laterally; 
usually  with  longer  necks  than  most  Snipe,  with  moderately  long,  strong,  and  stout 
bills,  also  much  compressed,  and  covered  at  tip  by  a  horny  investment;  the  remaining 
portion  membranous,  with  elongated  nasal  furrow,  and  narrow,  more  or  less  perfor- 
ate, nostrils;  tlie  lores  are  feathered  uniformly  as  in  the  Limicolie;  the  rest  of  tlie 
plumage  without  the  spotting  of  the  Snipes;  wings  rather  short,  more  rounded  than 
pointed,  and  when  folded  do  not  reach  beyond  the  short,  soft,  and  feeble  tail,  in 
fact,  seldom  to  its  base;  the  outer  two  or  three  primaries  generally  abbreviated:  the 
toes  are  ver>-  long,  cleft  to  the  base,  thin,  and  generally  with  very  long  claws; 
the  same  is  the  case  with  the  hind  toe,  which  is  not  only  much  longer  than  in  the 
LimlcoliB,  but  is  generally  inserted  more  nearly  on  the  same  level  with  the  anterior 
ones,  touching  the  ground  for  most  of  its  extent. 

The  species  pick  up  their  food  on  the  surface,  and  do  not  probe  the  soft  mud  in 
search  of  it. 

The  North-American  species  of  this  trioe  are  few  in  number,  though  very  abun- 
dant in  individuals.  Their  habit  of  close  concealment  among  the  reeds  and  grass 
of  marshy  places  renders  them  very  diflicult  of  detection,  except  when  their  abodes 
are  more  or  less  submerged. 

Sub-Family  Rallin^e.  —  The  Hails. 
RALLUS,  LiNN.EUs. 

Ertllus,  I.iNN.KUs,  Syst.  Nat. 

Bill  'ringer  th;\n  the  head,  rather  slender,  compressed;  upper  mandible  slightly 
curved;  nostrils  in  a  long  groove,  and  with  a  large  membrane;  wings  short;  tertiary 
quills  long,  frequently  longer  than  the  primaries;  tail  very  short;  legs  moderate; 
tarsus  shorter  than  the  middle  toe,  and  covered  on  all  sides  with  transverse  scales; 
toes  long  and  rather  slender;  inner  toe  rather  shorter  than  the  outer;  hind  toe  short 
and  weak. 


1  See  Introduction. 


rth,  thoy  are 
ded,  like  the 
general  name 
and  enhance 
frequent  the 
d  much  upon 
3,  wliich  they 
the  morning. 


ipressed  laterally; 
',  strong,  and  stout 
ent;  the  remaining 
ore  or  less  pert'or- 
liB ;  the  rest  of  the 
more  rounded  than 
and  feeble  tail,  in 
f  abbreviated :  the 
very  long  claws; 
onger  than  in  the 
I  with  the  anterior 

e  the  soft  mud  in 

though  very  abun- 
,e  reeds  and  grass 
when  their  abodes 


mandible  slightly 
ngs  short;  tertiary 
rt;  legs  moderate; 
I  transverse  scales: 
ter;  hind  toe  short 


V& 


I   - 


1  \  \1 


,ll  ■  1 


IjpjKr  pari*  olivo  i 
nun:i  r.ma  on  l.h«  back  . 
low;  spat'.'  I,  .:;,i,.  ■.,  ;  ,. 
xdiite;  y 

tail  covi.Tis,  >\ .  !, 
tu'in;;  the  wid(  r;  :  ' 
brown;  uppir  wi; 
vorse  liii.'..  .f  «'-,;  ,. 

Tot»;      , 
and  li/i^  ,.,]i,'  ii',' dudili- 


This  beam: 
liiiid.  that  it 
riouthcni    horn 
species;  and 
Rail,  but  avciv). 


RrtUus  c.ipiti'ju.,  G„ 
ilSI3)  112.   Aud.  Orn.  1 


Wm ' 

I'll  '^ Til 


Tpp.  r  imrt.-^  ligi.i 
iiMiiuTous  oL  the  bavh 
'  ■  vc;  ypaet  hi'f,;:., 
loik  Ix-i'oif  and  fill  ,1 
ihi!  breast;  n'nXw,  abi'; 
br;.wi)i«ih-blavk  (liid  ■,• 
i>h-<ii)v<.';  under  ,•  ip 

Total  iepgtl! 
two  atui  a  hah'  niam-. 

This  bii'd,  S' 

•    's,  is  rsi.-  ' 

•  "■       It     'i!KS    b 

'■  ''n!it".-«4  in  fche- 

.Ikxl  O!' 


iillil 


.■    1  w-'v-y^rt-  rs-^i 

'■■fir.rivs 

i 

i 

ML  \ 

:. :  ■ 

THE  CLAPPER  RAIL.         .  ^^j 

KALLUS   ^hUGAm.- Audubm. 
Marsh  Hen. 
Ballus  elegam,  Audubon.    Om.  Biog,  HI.  (iggy.  n?' 
Rallus  crej^aaus,  Wilson.    Am.  Oru,  ViL  ( m"! 

»,  l^ESCKIIIION. 

J«'l  coverts,  wi.h  transverse  bands  ot  b^w  J  i  "?"^''"'""' ""'^  ""''- 
be,ngtbe  wider;  tibia,  dull  yellowisl.-wirSh  splanf.'"' ""  ""'''  ''""''» 
brown;  upper  wing  coverts  reddish-chestnu     .  n  i  ^  transverse  bars  of  ashy- 

verse  lines  of  white.    Sexes  alike  '     "'^'''  ''"'^'  '="^'*^'-'«  '''"^k,  with  trans- 

Total  length  (from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tnih  „k     . 
and  fifty  one-hundredths;  tail,  three  inched       ^'  ''"'"'''"  •"*'''^«'-  ^'"S-  «'x 

^«c,.;  a„d  it.  ogp  oxaetl,  ■■o.o.Uo  llr   Jt™:? 
Kail,  but  average  about  one-fifth  laro-er  ^^ 

EALLUS    CEEPITANS.-C,„e««. 
The  Clapper  Bail;  Mud-hen. 
Jiallus  crepitans,  Gn.elin.    Svst.  Nat     I    n7SR^  r,,      „,.,      . 

-^  Description. 

tl.e  eye;  space  betbre  and  bell      he  "      :  V      h    "'"  ""  "^"^  *''  ^"«  '''"  °-- 
"'■ck  before  and  breast  pa  e  red"  Ll  vel  V       ""'  ""'  ""'^'^^  ^-^''^"d  white, 

the  breast;  sides,  ^^.r^^^tS^ZirJ:^^:^  7''  """-"^"^  "" 
brownish-black  and  white,  the  former  bein;)       ■'  transverse  bands  of 

ish-olive;  under  wing  co^^rbiriir'  y'''  "PP*^' ^^'"'S  coverts  brown- 

Total  length  (to  endof  taS  io  T''"'^  i^s  pale-yellow, 

two  and  a  Indf  inches  ^'  """^"  ""'"^^'  ""'S^'  "^«  «"d  a  half;  tail. 

This  bird,  so  well  known  in  the  Middle  and  Southern 
States  .rarely  found  in  New  England  as  a  sununer  Z 
toi.     It   has  been  known  to  breed  in  the  most  southern 
ocahtiesm  these  States;  but  the  instances  are  few,  and" 
can  be  called  only  an  accidental  species  in  New  England. 


472 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


It  begins  to  build  about  tlic  10th  of  May.  The  nost  is 
placed  on  the  ground  in  a  marsh,  sometimes  in  a  tussock  of 
grass  or  on  a  pile  of  seaweed :  it  is  constructed  of  a  largo 
mass  of  dried  grasses  and  weeds,  and  is  but  little  hollowed. 
The  eggs  are  from  five  to  seven  or  eight  in  number.  Tiieir 
form  is  usually  ovoidal,  and  their  primary  color  dull  creamy- 
drab  or  dirty-buff.  This  is  marked  more  or  less  thicidy  with 
spots  and  blotches  of  different  shades  of  brown  and  obscure 
spots  of  lilac.  The  nearest  in  resemblance  to  these  eggs 
are  those  of  the  Woodcock  ;  but,  when  a  number  of  each  are 
placed  side  by  side,  the  eggs  of  the  latter  may  be  readily 
identified  by  their  generally  more  pyriform  shape.  The 
dimensions  of  the  eggs  of  tlie  Clapper  Rail  vary  from 
1.82  by  1.25  inch  to  1.63  by  1.14  inch.  The  greater 
number  of  spots  are  more  of  a  purplish  tint;  and  they 
are  generally  rather  sparingly  distributed  over  the  entire 
egg. 

The  habits  of  this  species  are  similar  to  those  of  the  fol- 
lowing; but  the  Clapper  Rail  seems  to  i)refer  for  its  home 
the  marshes  in  the  neighborhood  of  salt  water. 


EALLUS    VIEGINIANUS.  — /./hncsu*. 
The  Virginia  Bail. 

Ealbis  Vtrgininntis,  Unnvcufi.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (17G6)  2G3.  AVils.  Am.  Orn.,  VH. 
(181.3)  109.  Nutt.  Man.,  H.  (1834)  2U5.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IIL  (1835)  41;  V.  573. 
lb.,  Birds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  174. 

Peschii'tion. 

Much  smaller  than  cither  of  the  preeeding,  but  resembling  tlicm  in  form,  and 
resembling  also  R.  elegnns  in  colors;  upper  parts  olive-brown,  with  hmgitudiual 
stripes  of  bruwnish-blaek;  line  from  base  of  bill  over  the  eye  reddif^h-wliite;  throat 
■white;  neck  before  and  breast  bright-rufous;  abdomen  and  under  tail  eoVeMts  with 
transverse  bands  of  blark  and  white,  the  tbrmer  being  the  wider;  upper  wing  coverts 
bright  rufous-chestnut;  under  wing  coverts  black,  with  transverse  lines  of  white; 
iris  bright-red. 

Total  length  (from  tip  of  bill  to  end  of  tall),  about  seven  and  a  half  inches;  wing, 
four;  tail,  one  and  a  half  inches. 

This  handsome  species  is  pretty  generally  distributed 
throughout  New  England  as  a  summer  resident.     Unlike 


"»  f, 


THE   VIRGINIA   RAIL. 

473 
tho  proccdii.g,  it  locates  itself  in   t),,  r     , 

^'^eed,  it  fonns  its  nest.      Tl.is  '..  n  •'"  '  '"''  *^^'  ^'^•'■^"t- 
wceds  or  gniss,  wl.ich  it  n,-  "^'  ''"^  '^  I'il«  of 

and  follows  to  tLe  d  1  of  ne  "f  '"  '  """'"^^'*  ^---S 
a  half.  ^     ''^^'^''^^^^/"n^'^l'oruninchaud 

The  eggs  ai-e  from  six  to  ton  in 
««ven.     They  are  ovoidal  in  f!    .  "  "'""''"'  "'^'''^"^  «''«"* 
^iko  a  miniature  of  thol    f     ;  c  ^^^'l^^f  ^ -- to  be 

"^eius,colleetedinCaml,rid..e  A  ^^'''^'^'^"  ^^'^''•-  «ome  speci- 
^"t  none  approaeh  th;:^r;?^i:::;'^;;-l'-""'^-eolor ; 
to   1.0   mistaken  for  them      'H  ''' ^^'"'^ ''^^^"'^'^'''tly 

n^arks  of  reddish  and  brown  n  7  •!'."'  T"''^  '''^^'  «"^all 

for  its  »u,„,uo,- 1, rrrd   ,  o  "'?  "'"^  "'"•''-'^  "»■"">:« 

i'-'o  the  fartho^r  o;»    r       ir'T'"''.''"'""^  '■«"-"■' 

"ig  it  one  of  tl.o  co,n,„o„o«  „f       ^^    l"-'s«ut,ou  i„  call- 

ou..  d„.,,g  t„„  t„  ■;;!;;:'    r,f  ;itr- , "  ''"-'^ 

concealed  in  the  ltiss  ,I„,.i,      .,  ^        "'  "'"'  'cuains 

Its  food  eon,is  s  n ' "  „.|         ^'     '  "'■™"'^  l""''  °f  ""^  d^- 
abundant         e,„e  1    ::':,'''T'r;''''  "■°™"' ^"'''  "»  "- 


.  I 


i 


lit' inches;  wing, 


PORZANA,  ViEiLLOT. 

a  large  "u.nU,rane        nl^      I^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  "-^"-"  a  wi,lo'gri,,  ,,„. 

'"rs„.s  about  the  len'nh  of  the  ,!  H    '  ^  ""  '""^''""  "'""  ^^''-"'""'-'^^ '  tai 


.-n.n.naco„,p.esseaa„dsie..r71-.i;;:2' 


tail  short; 
•ter  than 


474 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


POEZANA  CAROLINA. 

The  Carolina  Rail;  Ortolan. 

Rail,,,  {Crex)  C«ro««««,  Bonaparte.    Obs.  Wils.  (1825),  No.  230.    Nutt.  Man., 

11.(1834)209. 

Ortyf/ometra  Carolina,  Audubon.    Birds  Am.,  V.  (1842)  145. 

DKsciiirTioN. 
Space  around  the  base  of  the  bill,  .xtendlng  downwards  on  the  neck  before  and 
over  tlie  top  of  tiie  bead,  black.  .     ..     ,   ,       .      r  n    i     „„i 

.1/a/e.- Upper  parts  Rreenisb-brown,  with  longitudmal  bands  of  black,  nnd 
many  feathers  having  narrow  stripes  of  white  on  their  ed^es;  behind  the  eye,  s.des 
of  the  neck,  and  the  breast,  fine  bluish-a.hy,  with  circular  spots  and  transverse 
bands  of  white  on  the  breast;  n.iddie  of  the  abdomen  and  under  tad  coverts  wh.te; 
sides  and  flanks  with  transverse  bands  of  brownish-black  and  white;  bdl  grcen.sh- 
yeih)w;  legs  dark-green. 

/'tmri/e.  — Similar,  but  duller  in  colors.  ,  ,  „     i  •. 

Young  -  Without  black  at  the  base  of  the  bill  or  on  the  neck ;  throat  dull-white ; 
breast  dull  yeilowish-ashy ;  up,.er  parts  tinged  with  dull-yellow;  iris  chestnut. 

Total  length,  about  eight  and  a  half  inches;  wing,  four  and  a  quarter;  tail,  two 
inches. 

This  species,  like  the  Virginia  Rail,  is  probably  more 
abundant  in  our  frcsh-watcr  meadows  than  is  generally  sup- 
posed.   It  arrives  in  April,  about  the  llith  ;  and,  separating 
into  pairs,  lakes  up  its  residence  in  the  inland  marshes, 
where  it  breeds,  and  remains  until  its  departure  for  the 
South,  about  the  middle  of  October.     Early  in  May  the  sea- 
sou  of  incubation  commences.     The  nest  is  constructed  of 
pieces  of  straw  and  weed,  arranged  in  a  large  pile,  and  hol- 
lowed to  the  depth  of  an  inch  or  more :  it  is  usually  placed 
iu  a  tussock  of  grass,  or  beneath  a  piece  of  turf.     A  speci- 
men which  I  found  in  Dedham  meadows  was  built  beneath 
some  thick  cranberry-vines,  and  I  have  known  of  others 
being   placed  in   small   brier   patches ;    but  generally  the 
fabric  is  built  in  an  open  meadow,  \isually  on  an  elevated 
tussock  in  a  boggy  tract  of  ground.     Tlte  eggs  vary  from 
five  to  eight  or  ten  in  number  :  their  form  is  almost  always 
au  exact^ovoidal.     Their  color  is  a  yellow-drab,  with  a  faint- 
olivaceous  tint,  different  from  the  color  of  any  of  our  other 
Rail's  eggs.     They  vary  in  dimensions  from  1.35  by  1  inch 
CQuincy,''Mass.)  to  1.15  by  .85  inch  (Albion,  Wis.).    Tlie 


fll 


THE   YELLOW   BAIL. 


475 


>.  230.    Nutt.  Man., 


the  neck  before  and 


average  size  h  about  1.20  bv  1  no  rn     ,    . 

liain,  Mass.).  "Y  i-J^  (Cambridge  and  Need- 

» -"pou  to  the  gunners  of  those  localities. 

POBZANA  NOVEBOBACENSIS. 
The  Yellow  Rail. 
Ort;i!,ometrn  JVoveboracensis  A ,  „i ,  t 

""""  *"■'»»'■—■•.  i2^:"z.  m;;.':,i.':',',L',r  '"• 

"-™™S'=:!sr':Si? I  :* -  -,»„,.„., , 

-;:;  Si:;!  -'"  • •  - '"-  -^-"xririx  ;;■■ 

Tills  beautiful  bird  is  au  cxccMn„„l„ 
autuuu,  visitor  iu  Now  Eu.Wan<i      T T^  ^  '^""«  "'"' 

yoa«'  s,,oo.iug,  becu  ablo°t„  toe  t.-o  bn't";  "  """","''  "' 
uot  hoard  of  more  tinu  t,>-„  „  '""'   •'"«'  I'"™ 

I'  1.-  „l,  the  el,  a  :L  Z  ZT'"  ''"'>'  '"^™  "='<'• 
".0  n.osl,.„.a.er  u.eado„..s  'to'tL'  ^t  .l^r.'-i;:"' "r'"? 
sou,ui  IMS  "Nortbon,  Zoolo»y  "  sav,  " T '■  ,'•""='">"'- 
.s  a«  iubabitaut  of  tbe  .u.rsfo's  o7tbe  e  "t'  olt'l  ""^ 
Bay,  near  the  mouth  of  tlio  Sovor,,  mj  "V""™"  ' 
of  May  to  the  cud  of  Scptem  I    '    "'"     '°  '"'*"° 

«ixty  yards  at  a  time,  but  ,,1^^    "  '1°™'' ■    '''  '"""' 
tl.o  bug  grass  uear  the  shores     ]'  u  „    ■  ''■''"  7  ■■""°"" 

i'  ..«e.-s  a  note  whioh  .oseuiios  :':tr  ir't;:'^':;^'"^ 

Steel:  at  other  timoe  ,'f  «    i  ,    .    ''"-"'fe  ^^  a  flint  and 

'*•'  uuiti  limes,  It  makes  a  s  u-  ekino-  noho      Tf  i.  -i  i 

-.St,  but  lays  from  ten  to  si.teo,,  white  Z'^^^t 


476 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND  OOLOGY. 


I 


FULICA,  LiXN/KUi. 

Fulli-n,  I.iNN.Kim,  Sy»t,  Nnt.  (173r)).  (Typo  FiiUca  atra,  I-.) 
Hill  uliorlrr  tliiiii  tilt;  lifiid,  .hIihIkIiI,  NlrmiK,  c(mi|prr!*i*i'(l,  and  ndvanrlnR  Into  tlin 
fi'utlu!r»  of  tlie  t'orrheHd,  wlitTe  it  t'ri(|U(iilly  loriim  ii  widr  iind  Koincwliat  projcctiiit; 
I'iMiitiil  |iliiti'!  iiostrilN  ill  tt  fjroovc,  with  a  lal•^{u  iiu'iiiliraiic  near  tlii'  iiiiddlu  of  tliu 
1)111;  wiiiK!*  latliir  nliort,  itwond  and  third  (piillH  uHually  lonxosti  tnll  very  »hort| 
tarsus  r  .nst,  shorter  than  the  luiddh'  tor,  with  very  distinct  transverse  sealos;  fnes 
loiijr,  eaeh  toe  having  sfiniciiviilar  loins,  larger  on  thu  inner  hide  of  the  too;  hind 
tou  rather  long,  lobed. 

FULICA   AMERICANA.  —  Omflln. 

The  Coot;  Poule  d'eau;  Mud-hen. 

Fiillca  Amerirrina,  (;nielin.     Syst.  Nut.,   I.  (1788)  704.    And.  Orn.  Biog.,  III. 
(1835)  291;   V.  608.     76.,  Hirds  Am.,  VI    (1M2)  138. 
Fiillca  tttia,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  IX.  (1825)  61. 

Dkhchii'TIon. 

Head  and  neck  glossy-black,  with  a  tinge  of  ashy;  niider  tail  coverts  white; 
entire  other  iiliiinage  dark  bliiisli-einereous  or  slate-color,  with  a  tinge  of  olive  on 
the  hack  and  darker  on  the  riiinp;  e<lne  of  wing  at  shoulder  and  edge  of  lirst  pri- 
mary white;  secondary  (piills  tipped  with  white;  rump  fre(|iieiitly  tinged  with 
hrownish;  bill  very  pale-yellow  or  nearly  white,  with  a  transverse  band  of  brown- 
ish-black near  the  end;  tip  white;  legs  dull  grayish -green.  Female  similar,  but 
with  the  tints  lighter.  Young  like  the  adult,  but  with  the  under  parts  lighter; 
abdomen  fre(|ueiitly  a^hy-white;  back  and  rump  dark  olive-brown;  head  and  neck 
lighter;  iris  reddish-ha/.el. 

Total  length,  about  tuurteen  inches;  wing,  seven;  tail,  two  inches. 

This  species  probably  l)rec(ls  in  all  the  No\v-En<>lan(l 
States,  but  not  abuutlaiitly.  It  prefers  the  noij^hborhood  of 
some  small  muddy  jtond  for  its  habitation  ;  and  its  nest  is 
usually  built  in  an  almost  iiuiccessiblo  bo<?.  Of  the  charac- 
ter of  the  nest,  I  am  i<rnorant,  but  jud«ic  that  it  resemhlos 
that  of  the  other  members  of  this  family. 

The  ef,'gs  are  from  ei-rht  to  twelve  in  numbor.  Their 
form  is  an  elongated  ovoid.  Their  color  is  a  palo  ycilowish- 
butt",  or  dirty-cream  tint;  and  tliey  arc  marked  w',l<  HiM',  di  k 
and  spots  of  dark-umber  and  obscure  fine  dots  of  lilac. 
In  all  the  specimens  that  I  have  examined,  these  dots  are 
pretty  thickly  distributed  or  sprinkled,  but  are  in  no  case 
coijfluf>nt  into  blotches.  Their  dimensions  vary  from  2.10 
by  l.?.>  to  2  by  1.28  inch. 


NOTFS. 


477 


uid.  Orii.  U'Mg.,  III. 


Tins  »p(«.ui,  i,  raoro  „i,„„j„  ,  . 

giiajro.-—  "^'^  '"  ^'x'  ''>ll<)\viiig  lull- 

f"!. »•„,,,  wl,i,.l,  ,„,.  i,.;,,,,,,-,,    '    '^  '   '"  ""•'  '-l»'"l-  '"■  ll»  riv,,. 

?;-'  "'"■  "■"  ■ ..v:/!.!::;.'':::  :::'•::' ■'■'■:'•  "■" ■ 

of  resort  bo  covered  with  w.u  .■  •  'T T'  T''  '''''  "'"- 
fo-"..l  sittin.  o„  th.  fallen  reed  "w  it  !  T"';  '^' "'"•'  ^"'"•"■•'"^ 
which  will  enable  the.n  to  f"  T  f  "/"  ''"'  °*"  ''"  '"'•'' 
"•l""ti«  plants,  seeds,  inserts  and"  i/l  • ,  '"""•""  "^  ^"'■'■•"'^ 
"-  -  aversion  to  take  wi;;:  1,  :,:'''' 7''V''-  ''''"'  ^'""^ 
retreat  at  low  water:  for,  „itC.,i.  ,"  ,::;;;'  '•^'  r""  '"  ''' 
n  contrives  ro  skulk  through  tla^^rass  and  ro  ."'^"■'"■•''^■'  >'^"' 

the  ...on.pressed  fbrn.  of  its  bod v  1  L  h  /  "''''  «''*'"'  ''l"'"''  = 
-«11  adapted  to  tl..,  pn  1  "  '  '"^  '•"'  "^  ^""  «-'  ^-'-.s.  being 
when  wonnded,  win  Ji:  •^;  ;  :7%';"-'^''''>y  -11;  ...e 
the  water,   it  gc-nerally  takes  to      I     ,  "'"^^'b- pursued  in 

-'-stance,  ,ik:a  wouL.  .^  '^  ^  7'       T  '''''  ^"""-'^ 

with  its  feet  pa.terin,  on  the     'ij     ^tk'"'  ''-"^  ""  ^"'•'•'^•^'' 
by  the  name  of  the  ^lud-hen."  ''"  "'  l^ennsylvuniu 


■'til 


NOTE  S. 

I  continue  Mr.  Conpor's  valuable  notes  made  nf  n    > 
Lower  Canada  ;  ~  '  ^'^"^  ^*  Quebec, 

ARDEA  HERODIAS  —  Tho  ,.,!,. u  • 

;■•  "»■ '»".  "..■  .vo«n*';„,,T     I', "  ;;"■""-! '",  ""•«  tai.,„,e.  „„„,,,,, 

I«»  Uk,,  i„  r,,„er  t-,„„„,„     "'"  ""I" '*"«•",«  Sl,,„.    Ti,.,  breed  „„,; 

NrCTIAEDIlA  GAEDENT  —r  """hios. 

east  Of  Quebec,  and  :„  the  .^'Z^L^'S!:  Tt  I '^^  '"""  °'  ^^"'""^' 

""joining  tiie  St.  Lawrence.     This  bird 


Mil 


—^ 


I 


I 


478 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


suits  its  own  convenience  in  building  in  this  neinrhborhoor! ;  for  tlie  majority 
of  nests  on  the  latter  island  are  the  arjhitecture  of  our  Common  (^row. 

CHAEADEIUS  VIEGINICUS.  —  Common  during  the  fall.  Breeds  further 
north.  Thi.«  speci-is  came  on  board  a  steamship,  on  tlio  Atlantic,  six  hun- 
dred miles  out  from  Europe. 

iEGIALITIS  SEMIPALMATUS.  —  Uncommon.  Occurs  in  the  sprii.g,  on  its 
way  north  to  breed. 

SQUAT-IEOIA  HELVETICA.  —  Uncommon.     Occurs  in  sprinp; only. 

STEEPSILaS  INTEEPEES.  —  Uncommon.     Only  in  spring. 

PHALAECPUS  HYPEEBOEEUS.  —  Occasional.    Common  in  Labrador. 

PHILOHELA  MINOE.  —  Not  common.    A  few  breed. 

GALLINAGO  WILSONIL— Abundant  in  the  spring  and  fall.  None  breed 
in  this  district :  they  go  further  north. 

MACE0EHAMPHU3  GEISEUS.  ~  Occasional.    None  breed. 

TEINGA  CANUTUS.  —  Occasional.    None  breed. 

T.  MAEITIMA.— Accidental  at  Quebec. 

T.  MACULATA.  —  Common.    None  breed. 

T.  WILSONIL  —  Occurs  in  spring.    None  breed. 

CALIDEIS  AEENAEIA.  —  Occurs  in  spring.     Goes  far  north  to  breed. 

EEEUNETES  PETEIFICATUS.  —  Occurs  in  spring  only.    None  breed. 

GAMBETTA  MELANOLEUCA.  —  Occurs  in  immature  plumage  in  the  fall. 

GAMBETTA  FLAVIPES.  —  Occurs  in  the  fall. 

EHYACOPHIL  [IS  SOLITAEIUS.  —  Uncommon.  Only  noticed  in  the  spring, 
when  on  their  way  north  to  breed. 

TEINGOIDES  MACULAEIIIS.  —  Common.    Breeds. 

ACTITUEUS  BAETEAMIUS.  —  Rare.     Occurs  in  the  sprng. 

LIMOSA  HUDSONICA.  —  Occurs  in  spring  and  fall. 

NUMEHIUS  HUDSONICUS.  —  Occurs  in  the  fall. 

N.  BOEEALIS.  —  Visits  Quebec  in  the  fall. 

EALLUS  VIE6INIANUS.  —  Uncommon. 

POEZANA  CAROLINA.— Uncommon. 

P.  NOVEBOBACENSIS.  —  This  little  Rail  is  found  liere  in  the  fall,  at 
which  season  it  is  found  in  Snipe-grounds.  Tiiere  is  no  doubt  that  it  breeds 
further  north  than  Quebec. 

FULICA  AMEEICANA.  — Uncommon. 


NATATORES. 


479 


in  the  sprir.g,  on  its 


fall.    None  breed 


jticed  in  the  spring, 


ORDER  VI._NATATOEES.     Swimm™. 

of  a  membrane  between  the  t^  n      ,.  '"''  '°  '^''  P'-^«^"«« 

This  membrane,  when  found  ^  i,  :^  V'"''"-"  ^«  ^^^  ^'J^^- 
or  less  to  the  i^J^J:^XZ^;^"T'  T  ^°"'"^^'  -- 
This  genus  has  been  vario  ^;  p L^Tn  Z  ^  '  '"  ''''''''''' 
a  question  where  it  really  bein^  Tho  .  T'  '"^  ^'  '^  ''^^ 
bles  that,  of  theN.taJsZZ%  ."^  .'  ^^^"f  anatomy  resem- 

curmg  foo,l  for  themselves  almost  from  l.irti,  ^     ^^  I"'"" 

with  ™«7ar:r::^ ':::!:':■'>•"■"'  °^  '^-  -"-■  '-• 

toete         ~  """  ""•'■  '™»^"-  '»-"«  *«S  .>.e  e,,e. ;  hind 


480 


OENITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


SUB-ORDER  ANSERES. 


Family  ANATIDiE. 

The  two  jaws  with  transverse  lamelloc,  alternating  and  fitting  in  each  other; 
upper  mandible  ending  in  an  obtuse  rounded  nail;  a  groove  running  along  both 
jaws  to  the  nail ;  tlie  feathers  of  the  forehead  extend  forward  on  tlie  culnien  in  a 
rounded  or  acute  outline;  tliose  on  the  side  of  lower  jaw  and  en  the  chin  extend 
forward  in  a  similar  manner;  commissure  straight;  legs  short. 


Sub-Family   Cygnin^.  —  The   Swans. 
CYGNUS,  LiNN.EUs. 

Cyijnm,  Lixn.i;us,  Sj-st.  Nat.  (1835).    (Type  Anas  olor,  Gm.)  Gray. 

Neck  very  long;  bill  longer  than  the  head  (commissure  longer  than  the  tarsus), 
the  basal  portion  covered  by  a  soft  skin  extending  to  the  anterior  half  of  the 
eye;  the  plane  of  the  upper  outline  from  eye  to  eye  horizontal;  the  lateral  outline 
extending  nearly  straight  to  the  commissure,  or  even  sometimes  widening  slightly; 
not  half  the  width  of  the  bill  at  tip;  nostrils  situated  in  the  middle  portion  of 
the  bill;  lower  portion  of  tibia  bare;  the  tarsus  much  shorter  than  the  foot,  much 
compressed,  covered  with  hexagonal  scales,  which  become  smaller  on  the  sides  and 
behind;  hind  toe  small,  much  elevated;  the  lobe  niirrow:  tail  of  twenty  or  more 
featliers,  rounded  or  wedge-shaped;   sexes  similarly  colored. 


CTGNDS  AMERICANUS.  —Slmrpless. 

The  American  Swan. 

Cyamts  Amerlcmus,  Sharpless.    Doughty's  Cab.  N.  H.,  I.  (1830)  185.    Aud.  Orn. 
Biog.,  V.  (1839)  133.    Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  Vl.  "(1843)  226. 
Cyffnus  fei-us,  Nuttall.    aian.,  11.  (1834)  368. 

Description. 

Bill  as  long  as  the  head,  broad,  high  at  the  base;  the  feathers  ending  on  the  fore- 
head ii;  a  seniicircidar  outline;  nostrils  far  forward,  the  anterior  extremity  consider- 
ably more  forward  than  half  the  commissure;  tail  of  twenty  feathers. 

Adult  pure-white;  bill  and  legs  black;  the  former  with  an  orange  or  j-ellowish 
spot  in  front  of  the  eye;  less  mature  specimens  with  the  head  above  tinged  with 
reddish-brown;  iris  brown. 

Length,  fifty-live  inches;  wing,  twenty-two;  tarsus,  four  and  twenty-five  one- 
hundredths;  bill,  above,  four  and  twenty  one-hundredtlis  inches. 

Ilab  —  Continent  of  North  America. 


1830)185.    Aud.Orn. 


THE  AMERICAN   SWAN. 
The  Common  Amorimn  «:,.,„    • 

which  IS  otherwise  black.  ^'""^'^  °'  °'''"So  space  at  the  base  oT  the'bifl' 

THIS  beautiful  bird  is  so  ovf,.«     i 
that  it  caunot  propeX  bo  J^ '"''  "^  ^«"  ^»=^^n<J 

our  fauna.     Within  a  f'^'e        ^^T"'"''  ''  ^«^-8-g  to 
mens     have     been  ^''' P'^^^^P^  three  oi- four  speci- 

taken  in  tlie  waters  .^^=^^^^^fe^^_ 

of  Lake  Champlain ;      ,^i^  ^~^^=, 

and  I  believe  a  small  ^'-^^^^'^  ""^ 

flock  is  recorded  to 
have  been  seen  in 
Lake  Memphrema- 
gog.  These  are 
the  only  instances 
known  to  me  of  its 
occurrence  in  these  __ 


Suh-Family  A^^y.^mjE.— The   Geese. 
ANSER,  LixN.Kus. 

n  J!Lr;;;?^n.;w  "f'^:t';:;.;y-:^«-'°-^^  ^-e  lame,,. ,,.,,,, 

n-ldle  of  the  commissure,  the  anterior  el  o.lvrv""*"'^,  .°P^"''"«  "^^"'"d  the 
toe  reaching  to  the  ground.  ^       ^  ''"''""«  '"  ""«  PO'"'!  tip  of  hind 


SI 


I 


i     '•  ! 


482  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


*  ANSEE  HYPEEBOEEUS.  — Pn^/fw. 

The  Snow  Goose. 

Ans'er  hjpcrborevs,  Pallas.     Spic.  Zool.,  VL  (1767)  25.     Nutt.  Man.,  IL  844. 
Aud.  Orn.  liiog.,  IV.  (1838)  5G2.     Jb.,  Hirds  Am.,  VI.  (1843)  212. 
Anas  hyperborea.    Gm.,  I.  504.     Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1814)  76.^ 

Description. 

Adult.  — JiWX  And  legs  red;  color  pure-white;  primary  quills  black  towards  the 
end.  silvery-bluish  gray  towards  the  base,  where  the  shafts  are  white;  the  spurious 
quills  are  also  bluish;  inside  of  wings,  except  primary  quills,  white;  immature  birds 
have  the  head  washed  with  rusty. 

Young.  —  Head  and  upper  part  of  neck  white ;  lower  part  of  neck  to  the  wings 
dark-brown,  passing  on  the  sides  of  body  into  a  more  ashy  shade;  rest  of  under 
parts,  concealed  portions  of  the  back,  nnnp,  and  upper  coverts,  white ;  the  entire 
scapular  and  scapular  region  is  ashj'-brown,  each  feather  with  faint  reddish-brown 
margin ;  the  upper  surface  of  the  wing  is  of  a  clear  silvery -ash,  but  passing  into  dark- 
brown  on  the  ends  of  the  quills;  the  coverts,  secondaries,  tertials,  and  scapulars, 
edged  with  white;  iris  liglit-brown. 

Length,  about  thirty  inches;  wing,  sixteen  and  forty  one-hundredths;  tarsus, 
three  and  twelve  one-hundredths;  commissure,  two  and  ten  (ine-hundredtlis  inches. 

This  is  another  rave  species  on  our  New-England  soa- 
coast.  As  a  general  thing,  it  is  only  seen  during  the  winter ; 
but  we  have,  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Cabinet,  a  fine  speci- 
men that  was  taken  in  Boston  Harbor,  in  July,  18G3.  It  is 
strictly  a  northern  species,  and  hardly  belongs  to  our  fauna. 

Dr.  Richardson,  in  describing  its  breeding  habits,  says, 
"It  breeds  in  the  barren  grounds  of  Arctic  America,  in 
great  numbers.  The  eggs,  of  a  yellowish-white  color  and 
regularly  ovate  form,  are  a  little  larger  than  those  of  the 
Eider  Duck;  their  length  being  three  inches,  and  their 
greatest  breadth  two.  The  young  fly  in  Augu.st ;  and,  l)y 
the  middle  of  September,  all  have  departed  to  the  soutli- 
ward.  The  Snow  Goose  feeds  on  rushes,  insects,  and  in 
autumn  on  berries,  particularly  those  of  the  Empetrum 
nigrum.'''' 

BERNICLA,  Stephens, 


Bernida,  Stepiieks,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XII.  (1824)  45.  (Type  Ana!  her- 
nicla,  L.) 

Bill  about  as  long  as  head  or  shorter;  the  commissure  nearly  straight;  the  teeth 
of  upper  inaudible  concealed,  except  perhaps  at  the  base ;  bill  and  legs  black. 


I   ilt  ■iiiLJL 


THE  CANADA   GOOSE. 


).     (Tj'pe  Anai  ber- 


The  American  geose  wifl.  )  i    . 

wi.e  considerate      ""'^"'"^ '"  ^"«  «'-^e  of  pill'^         ,;f  ^'--.  the.n  ,.,  ^ 

lue  same  species  is  like- 

BEENICIA  CANADENSIS.  ^5„,, 
.        ^   '  ^''^  Canada  Goose. 

/»■■'  of  eighteen  feathers.  hea/T™""- 

^^"'••■•^"   ^-"-s  0^  J:''^";;-'  -xtendin,  to  Te' r     •    7,  °^  ^-^P-'^e  sides 
P-t-s  light,  with  a  tin!    of  n'   '''''''  P«^'^  "^'-own       '    ,   'T'^"^^''   '  ''^ 
e<'fe'es  of  the  foa.he     ^  le/  ^''-'''-f  «.v,  .sometimes  a  s  a  e  'J  T]  'f '''•  """«^      • 
•^econnng  deeper  on  the  ti ,'      V"'"'"  "^  "'«  »^0'lv  of  ti  e  W         "'^-''■^'■"^^•" '  "'« 

•^^"y  P-^os  .L.«:  ;t  'Ste  o  "'.r  "'"^^'  '*-  "-'^le  /  S:!'  r  "^"  -""--n 

""1  coverts  are  pure-wh  te  '  "'""  '"'^ff''""  "nd  mil  ^'"•' "^  ""^ 

^"■o;vn;  the  tail 'l.Jh  r    ar'e     :r'"-'' "  '"'''  '"'^  ^'4      e  v  "T^l  "'f  "P'^^^ 

Length,  thirty-tive  inchi-  wl      '  •?  ^'"^■'"'"t-'^.-own.  "^  "'"•'^  '"««kish- 

~'-re,  two  and  ten  o„e:hunSi;:tr '■^"^'  "'^  ""'>  -"  one-hund^dths  • 

™>'ly  as  tl,e  last  week  i„  Septa  fc     "',"""'  "  ''""■'"  "» 
"=  fl'-st  of  Becembcr,  a„J  cv  '  l""  '^^"»  "">"  ""til 

;'«  «o,uho,.n  ,„,V,,,i„;,,  ".;  :'\^,^;' ■'  l«»«os  i„  fleets  i„ 
'"■<=»'Js  ,,,  the  most  nortlien,  „  °'°'  "»  "'«  "Je 

-"o;i„.es  passes  U,e  Te        'o,?-:  :h,°'  "'°  "°"*-"'^  '' 
11"=  United  States;  but  ti.e  n!     """''='•'»"  "'  tho  Ii,„i(s  of 

f-'d  tl,at  it  has  bred  o      I     i^rv""'"'"'-    '  ""O^- 

Jfassael.usetts,  several  ti„,es    tdT         V'"^'  "»"''  "f 
'"•«a"oos,  but  do  uot  eomdern  ''''"™ '<•''' "'■""'er 

^•""'d-     The  nest  is  I„e2d  t        ""  *"  ""  "^"  """">"«- 

«-0">.hc  -ate,..  ,e,,eran7a  ,0  1  r;;:f  r  '""""  "»'  ^^ 

o"=tlie  thickest  grass,  and  not 


i^ 


;ii 


jij 


484 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND    OOLOGY. 


unfrcqiioiitly  under  a  bush.  It  is  carelessly  formed  of  dry 
plants  of  various  kinds,  and  is  of  a  largo  size,  flat,  and 
raised  to  the  lieight  of  several  inches.     The  eggs  arc  usually 


-^^^^S^^^^^ 


about  six  in  number :  they  average  three  and  a  half  inches 
by  two  and  a  half,  are  thick-shelled,  rather  smooth,  and  of 
a  very  dull  yellowish-green  color.  The  period  of  incuba- 
tion is  twenty-eight  days.     Wilson  says  of  this  bird :  — 

"  Their  first  arrival  on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey  is  early  in  Octo- 
ber; and  tlieir  first  numerous  appearance  is  the  sure  prognostic 
of  severe  weather.  Tliose  which  continue  all  winter  frequent  the 
shallow  bays  and  marsh  islands :  iheir  principal  food  being  tlie  broad, 
tender,  green  leaves  of  a  marine  plant  which  grows  on  stones  and 
shells,  and  is  usually  called  sea-cabbage  ;  and  also  the  roots  of  die 
sedge,  whicli  they  are  fre(piently  observed  in  the  act  of  tearing  up. 
Every  few  days,  they  make  an  excursion  to  the  inlets  on  the  beach 
for  gravel.  They  cross,  indiscriminately,  over  land  or  water,  gen- 
erally taking  the  nearest  course  to  their  object ;  differing,  in  this 
respect,  from  the  Brant,  which  will  often  go  a  great  way  round  by 
water,  rather  than  cross  over  the  land.  They  swim  well ;  and,  if 
wing-broken,  dive,  and  go  a  long  way  under  water,  causing  the 


THE  BRANT. 


485 


sportsman  a  creat  deal  nf  fnH        i    /. 

"i^'Ht  in   tl.e  marshe:     Wh!     t^.fj,:"  ^"'f  ^^^^^^''  ^'"^  -ost  all 
«ec.k  the  n.outl,s  of  inlets  rLvL  "^''  ""''  ^'■«^'^»'  "^^y 

air-holes  in  the  ice;  but  these  hays  "e"!;;"""'"''^  ^'^'^'"S  ^^'^ 
as  to  prevent  the.  fro.  feeUin,  ^l  T,  ^"^  ^  -"1'^-^'^  ^-en 

llie  Hight  of  the  Wild  Geese  !«  1,„., 
•"  a  straight  line,  or  in  two  lb         ",  ^^^  T    ^'^^«--^'  generally 
in  both  cases,  the  van  is  led  hv  ui  i  '"'  *« '^  P""'^  t'n.s,  ... 

then,  pipes  his  well-known  i,f/:'"^';'  7^'«'  --T  -v  and 
and  tlie  honk  of  'All's  well'  is  V     \T  '^  ^^'"^  ^"""e  on; 

party.  Their  course  L  in  a  I'^Z^'  "".'?^'^  ^'^'  ^^  "^  ^''e 
the  undulations  of  their  flight'  vS  ,  ',r"'',  '"  "^^^P^'""  of 
they  appear  sometin^es  to  t  in  !  '  rT  "'  ^"  '"^^  ^^-^'''«''' 
in-egular  manner,  and  for  a  considl-  /!"''''  ^^'"'»  '^^""^  "'  «» 
'er,  making  a  great  clanLr  On  1  "^  ""''"  ^''^ -"-i»- 
ai'proach  the  earth,  and  ali.-ht  __,,..  H  "''  ''^""'^'    ^''^^^ 

and  recollect  themselves  -I  tl  o  n  '^  sometimes  do,  to  rest 

death  and  destruction  f  om  a     h  1  '    -l^'f  '''''  ""^^^  ^^'^'^  ^ 
for  their  ruin."  '  "^ighborhood  already  iu  arms 

BERNICLA  BEENTA.-5Me«.. 
The  Brant. 
Anns  hernida,  IJnna'us      c;,..f    v  .     r 
(1814,  131.  "'""'"•     ^'^^'-  ^^"^  ^-  (I'CO)  198.     Wil.  An,.  On..,  VIII 

Anser  beruicln,  N„tfai|.     jfaii    U    3-.0       a     >    ^ 

^emc./«  i.e,..,  s,.,„,,..     Sha,VsZool.,XII.(,S24)46. 
Bill  -in)  r   t   1       '  r>i:scitii-Tiox 

the  bluisl.  .«ilvory-prav  of  ,1,    ,!,';„/"  •"'^■"'"'"  '-^  ^''-Ptlv  dofined  n^aini 
''a.al  portion.s  l.luish-:.,,,.-  ,1,      v         '         '''  ^'"'^  ^'"'  '"-'"'^"•^  «-■  "•l,i..l,  l„„;  ,  , 

l-'fT  ...u.i,vlo,|  all  nunul  and  eo„«  K J  ;;,'"" T"^-;;"";^"'"^  '-'"-'- '"e  tail 
'^n-  «n.y,sl-bl„e,  with  sli,.|„lv  paler  olV\^  "^'"r  "^'  '""•'^  "'"'  --•^  covorts 
-re  unifonn  blue,  the  .soeond  He  , ^  Vo,  "  '  ,'■' ,"'  "  "■""''"'••  '"'^  "'"'--  -'I 
towards  the  base;  iris  dark-ha.,,  "  '•"'"•■'"'^■''  "'"■f''^''  "»  "'o  i.n.er  webs 

and  lorty  one-hu„dredths  incla-s  ^     "^  o„e  hundredths ;  co„.,„issure,  one 


m. 


:i'   I 


486 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


The  Brant  is  found  on  o\ir  coast  pretty  ahundantly  at 
the  same  seasons  as  the  Canada  Goose,  which  it  resem- 
bles very  much  in  its  general  habits. 

Ilavnig    had    but    lew    opimrtuuities   of   observing   this 
si)ecies  in  its  wild  state,  I  give  the  description,  ])y  Wilson,  of 
its  general  habits  :  "  The  Brant  is  expected  at  Egg  Harbor, 
on  the  coast  of  New  Jersey,  al)ont  the  first  of  October, 
and  has  been  sometimes  seen  as  early  as  the  20tb  of  Sci> 
tomber.     The  first  flocks  generally  remain  in  .lie  bay  a  few 
days,  a\id  then  pass  on  to  the  South.     On  recommencing 
their  journey,  they  collect  in  one  large  body,  and,  making 
an  extensive  spiral  course,  some  miles  in  diameter,  rise  to  a 
great  height  in  the  air,  and  then  steer  for  the  sea,  over 
which  they  uniformly  travel,  often  making  wide  circuits  to 
avoid  passing  over  a  projecting  point  of  land.     In  these 
aerial  routes,  they  have  been  met  with,  many  leagues  from 
shore,  travelling  the  whole  night.     Their  line  of  march  very 
much  resembles  that  of  the  Canada  Goose,  with  this  excep- 
tion, that  frequently  three  or  f(mr  are  crowded  together  in 
the  front,  as  if  striving  for  precedency.     Flocks  continue  to 
arrive  from  the  North  ;  and  many  remain  in  the  bay  till 
December,  or  until  the  weather  becomes  very  severe,  when 
these  al^o  move  off  southwardly.     During  their  stay,  they 
feed  on  the  bars  at  low  water,  seldom  or  never  in   the 
marshes ;  their  principal  food  being  a  remarkably  long  and 
broad-leaved  marine  plant,  of  a  bright-groen  color,  which 
adheres  to  stones,  and  is  called  by  the  country  peoi)le,  sea- 
cabbage :    the  leaves  of   this  are  sometimes  eight  or  ten 
inches  broad,  by  two  or  three  feet  in  length.     They  also  cat 
small  shell-fish.     They  never  dive,  but  wade  about,  feeding 
at  low  water.     During  the  time  of  high  water,  they  float  in 
the  bay  in  long  lines,  particularly  in  calm  weather.     Their 
voice  is  hoarse  and  honking,  and,  when  some  hundreds  arc 
screaming  together,  reminds  one  of  a  pack  of  hounds  in 
full  cry.     They  often  quarrel  among  themselves,  and  with 
the   Ducks,    driving   the   latter    off    their    feeding-ground. 


THE  MALLARD. 


487 


Though  it  novor  divos  in  or..    i      /.  /. 

-mlo.-  water,  „„a  i.  „„„L°  d  K  ^"'"'  ■"  "  ""■"'"I- 

of  th»  most  difficult  bird,  to  kill  A  "TT""'''  ""^ 
f  May,  the,  r„.p„oar  on  t.:„  •  ta,t  1 1  ',  °''  '"'" 
1".^,  unless  driven  in  by  tempostu^,::;!;,!:  '."'""'"  ""^ 

T1.0  egg,  are  from  five  to  eight  i       ul      .  T  ''°'°- 

i"  form,  somcti,„os  nearly  oval  ad  "■,'  7  "'?  °™"' 
color,  ,„™etin,o,  darkened  in  '  a  "1  L"^:"™" -"■'^ 
-u„ons  vary  from  2.00  l,y  1.02  to lls    "' 1  8  "L t" 


Sub-Family  Aj^xt^m.  -  T/ie  River  Duch. 

The  Anatimr,  or  liivpr  Dik.Itq  o-/.  „     -i    i 

AH  (lie  North-American  Rivnr  ni,„i,=  „         ■    ■ 
excepti.,,  ««e,,.,/„/.,X^      "a  ,S-t:  r  'f  '"^  "'^^"■"  '^'-^-     ^"  «"■ 

flanks,  most  conspicuous  in  the  Jl.!     d  On  i      n  ""'  °"  ""^  ''^■'«'''="  "^  "'e 

n  tiie  iJdllard,  Oad«-aII,  and  Green-winged  Teal. 

ANAS,  LiN.v.Kus. 

-.rils  reaching  ,„  end  o^Z^^JZ^^Z''^'''.  '""  -"'•'  "^  '"«  l>iil; 
Load,  .Lin,  and  cheeks,  reaching  about  th  to  n  ."""""''"•■  ''"''^'''  «^'  '"''- 
iino  With  the  iower,  tail  pointed  ^^  t;^;;^^  ""''°''"' '''^''"  ^" 

ANAS  BOSCHAS._/./„„^„,. 
The  Mallard;  Green-head. 
Anns  boschns,  Linn.-cus.     Syst.   Nat.,   L  07661   "n-.      w.       a        ^ 

(18H)  112.    Aud.  Orn.  Bioff    HI   /  83-.    ifii      »    t  ,     /'  '^'"'   ^"'■'  ^"^ 
"log,  m.  (is3o)  164.    lb.,  Birds  Am.,  VL  (1S43)  238    • 


488 


OBNITUOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Dkhcuiition. 

Afah.—  llcad  and  neck  bri^lit  grass-frreen,  wifli  violet  rIoss,  the  top  of  the  lioad 
duller!  a  white  ring  round  tiie  middle  of  tlie  neck,  below  wiiich  and  on  the 
forepart  and  sides  of  the  breast  the  eolor  is  dark  brownisli-clicstniit;  inider  jiarts 
and  sides,  with  the  scapulars,  pale-gray,  very  liiu'ly  undulated  with  dusky;  the 
outer  scapulars  with  a  brownish  tinge;  forepart  of  back  reddish-brown;  posterior 
more  olivaceous;  crissuni  and  upper  tail  coverts  black,  the  latter  with  a  blue  gloss; 
tail  externally  white;  wing  coverts  brownish-gray,  the  greater  coverts  tipped  (irst 
with  white,  and  then  more  narrowly  with  black;  speculum  i)urplisli-violet,  termi- 
Jiuted  with  black;  u  recurved  tuft  of  feathers  on  the  rump;   iris  dark-brown. 

/VHw/e.  — With  the  wing  exactly  as  on  the  male;  the  under  parts  plain  whitlsh- 
ochrey,  each  feather  obscurely  blotclied  with  dii.-ky;  head  and  neck  similar,  spotted 
and  streaked  with  dusky;  the  chiu  and  throat  above  unspotted;  up|jer  parts  dark- 
brown,  the  feathers  broadly  edged  and  banded  with  reddish-browu,  parallel  with  the 
cireumfereiice. 

Length  of  male,  tweiity-tliree  inches;  wing,  eleven;  tarsus,  one  and  seventy  one- 
hundrcdths;  couuuissure  of  bill,  two  and  fifty  one-liundredths  inches. 

The  Mallard  is  found  in  New  England  only  as  a  wan- 
derer, and  then  only  in  the  western  sections  in  the  spring 
and  autumn  seasons ;  a  few  are  seen  in  the  waters  of  Lake 

Champlain,  and  oc- 
^.    -^-^"'^^ -^'   ;  casionally    a    small 

flock  is  found  in  the 
Connecticut  River. 
This  is  the  original 
-  of  the  Common  Do- 
mestic Mallard ;  and 
its  habits  arc  so  well 
known  that  I  will 
give  no  description 
here. 
This  bird  breeds  in  all  sections  of  the  United  States, 
more  abundantly,  of  course,  in  the  northorn  than  in  the 
southern  ;  and  less  often  in  the  eastern  than  in  the  inte- 
rior and  western.  In  most  of  the  Western  States,  it  is 
one  of  the  most  abundant  of  water-fowls ;  and  it  breeds  in 
all  the  meadows  and  by  the  ponds  and  streams  throughout 
those  sections.  The  nest  is  built  in  a  tussock  of  high  grass, 
or  in  a  thick  clump  of  weeds.  It  is  composed  of  jiieces  of 
grass  and  weeds,  and  is  lined  to  the  depth  of  half  an  inch 


ME  DUSKV  DOCK. 

With  .town  and  oU.cr  soft  „,aie,,-,.,      n,  ^"^ 

0  fourtco,,  i„  „„„„,„, ^  .1,, J        ,„ J? '=''«■"'"  from  ton 

""J  vary  in  color  fi.„„  dir,/;", ,,       '''^  .'""'^"1  "•  "Impo, 

ANAS0BSCUEA._<7,„,„„. 

^''«D"«''y  Duck;  Black  Duck. 
^nas  ohcurn,  Gmclin.    Svsf   v  »    r 

•  Aud. or„.  Hi,,,., ,v. ,;; ;r;:- ';i'";'f^;-  wi,.,. a„, o,,.,^^,  ,^^^^^ 


»■■  A«a. „„..  ,„„,.;,v.  -™;f;:-  'ij"--. "..  «■,■,.„  „„.  „,„., 
''""' """""  *"»■«.  '.'"".II  M."u!  ;t;';;'j'-  <"«) «: 


Rill  .  .  I^KSCltriTKl.v. 

Hill  Krmiisli;  foot  -„,i.  .. 
'"">■«  "I-  less  visiM  '   ""'"'-'  ""feriorlv  with  „  ,.  ,   ''^"""^'•3  obscurely 

^-'^^M,of,nale.twenfvt,vo'     ,  "-"'"'"  Wu.h,  with 

:~S:»r:s:~H?::^r^       - 

^'"^'I-'^.     It  broods  ia  all  fl.o  y  '"  ,"V      ""»•  ^osJMvator 
;y-^dinthog.outostalnnJ     e^-rt:"'"^  ''^^"'  '^^^^  ^« 

-o.«s  .0 ,. ,  raii^rsr::'  ^f « i-'.».o„  c, 


I^>l 


it  at 


I,  E 


400 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


meadow,  near  a  poiul  or  stream,  but  ftometlmos  in  a  swamp 
in  which  a  small  brook  is  the  only  water  for  miles  around. 
This  species  sonuitimes  follows  these  sinidl  brooks  up  to 
their  sources;  aiul  I  once  found  oiu;  with  a  nest  on  a  low 
stump  that  overhung  a  small  spring  on  the  side  of  a  hill,  a 
mile  from  any  other  water.  The  nest  of  this  species  is  con- 
structed of  pieces  of  grass  and  weeds,  which  are  neatly 
arranged  into  a  structiu-e  eighteen  inches  in  diameter  on 
the  outside,  and  three  or  four  in  depth.  This  is  hollowed 
for  perhaps  an  inch  and  a  half  or  two  inches,  and  lined 
with  tlu;  down  and  feathers  from  the  breast  of  the  parent- 
bird.  The  eggs  are  from  seven  to  ten  in  number:  their 
form  is  usually  ovoidal ;  ami  their  color  varies  from  an 
olivaceous-yellow  to  a  dirty  yellowisli-white.  If  a  dozen  of 
these,  and  an  equal  nuh'-er  of  the  eggs  of  the  ^lallard, 
are  placed  side  by  side,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  identify 
them,  so  closely  do  they  resemble  each  other.  The  eggs 
of  the  present  species  vary  from  2.50  by  1.72  inch  (Lake 
Umbagog)  to  2.26  by  1.05  (Weston,  Mass.).  They  aver- 
ago  about  2.84  by  1.74  (Nova  Scotia).  Early  in  Septein- 
bi>r,  the  Dusky  Duck  gathers  in  flocks  of  (ifteen  or 
twenty.  It  is  now  so  dillicult  of  ap[)roach,  that  the  experi- 
enced gunner  seldom  attempts  to  secure  it  by  stalking  it. 
The  method  by  which  the  greater  number  are  killed  is  as 
follows:  The  sportsman,  knowing  the  localities  most  fre- 
quented by  these  flocks,  —  generally  meadows  in  which 
streams  of  water  or  small  ponds  are  abundant,  —  builds  a 
bower  near  the  water,  about  six  feet  s(iuare,  and  livi;  or  six 
high,  of  the  limbs  of  ])ines  and  other  dense  foliaged  trees, 
in  which  he  secretes  himself  at  daybreak,  armed  with  one  or 
two  heavy  double-barrelled  guns,  aiul  provided  with  throe 
or  four  tame  ducks.  One  of  these  ducks  he  anchors  or 
moors  out  in  the  water,  half  a  gunshot  from  the  bower. 
The  duck,  soon  becoming  lonesome,  begins  to  call,  when,  if 
there  are  any  wild  ducks  in  the  neighborhood,  they  answer 
the  call  in  an  almost  exactly  similar  note,  and  soon  fly  to 


DAPILA. 


491 


moot  tlio  cnllor     Tim 

"■f  ■  '.ou»  „„„  of  u,:",:,;  :::':';;„7'f"r'  "■»  mm.. , 

"'"I,  a»  «o„„  aa  tl,„  wild  „,  c,  „ n        ""'  ''''''"'^  '"  """l 
«■;■  "<I"T-,  1,0  ,l„v,„  tow    u, '"""'' ,"""'■  '■"""«"  to  BOO 

«fo"K  liuo  la»tono,l  (o  i,.,  1^'     '1 ''"".'    '>'"«  ■<  hy  a 
«lo.',  Hccing   |,or  ,„alo   llyint   t„„      ,     I     """"•"''  '"  ''"> 

"'"I  f-H,,  aiigi,,  ,;,i,i;;",'  ^;  ^-'>^  "-i^,  ..no,.  „,i,„  i,„i 

'|;o..  ii„a  ,1,0  »|,o,.,„„,:  ,,  'J  ™;'. ";?  "o-y;  u„.i  i.  il 

wl.o„  tho  bi,.cl»  „,.o   ,.i.si„!        „  '  ,  ""  """-I""--  i'olho. 
g""«l,ot.    Tho  cxci.„,„o„ta,„  ,  I  ,,\  "'"'i"  "  «'•■'»  "'"  <•<■ 
l'"»:o.'«  of  ,l,i„  clo,o,i|.,io,;,  a„d    ,avo"h;'7    '""7  "'>•"  "' 
tl.0  „f,o,„„„„  ,|,„t  ,1,0^/^  ';'^,"'"'"  '"""■"'«  a.,d  lato  i„ 
.  -J.  if  .i.oy  a,-o  ,„„ol,       ,  II,    "„  n  f  °',i"  "'''  "'•^""«'- ; 
"f  tl,o«o  bowo,.,  wi.l,„„t  .tat     I     "     r,  .^  ""'"'"'"''  «"» 
witi,  ,,»  tl„.„„„.,,  „oa,ly  Tl  0    M    ;'"•        "r  '''"-■''  '""'"'"^ 

-■-i  o„iy  i,.  vo,y3o>J„';; ,   f  \«;;-  -;-  ..„t„. 

arc  i,ot  f,«c„,  it  p,.o|b,.s  t „  ,    ,,        ,     °  '^'■'■■"''  !"""'>' 

«■'■•'*«.■  it  is  „,;»t  ,  l.„  ,  h„    ,"'        ''"  '""  ^™"^'--   I""  i" 

-I-- i' foods o„ »„,d    I  i  ,r"' ^,'  ■"''  ™»"  -»«>«, 

'owl,  t„t  i„  wi„to,.  is  ,ot  so  '     /  ,™''-     ""  °'"'  "■»"='■■ 


DAFILA,  LKAcr. 

„^f»..  ■■..»..„..  s..„.,.,  .,„,.„„,.,„,  _^„^_^^^^  ^^^^^^^^^_^^^^ 


I 


492  ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


DAFILA    ACUTA.  — Jenyns. 

The  Pintail ;  Sprigtail. 

.      Anns  acuta,  Linntcus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1766)  202.    Wib.  Am.  Cm.,  VIIL  (1814). 
AiKl.  Orn.  Biot,'.,  IIL  (1S35)  214;  V.  616.     lb.,  UMs  Am.,  VL  (1843)  260. 

JJaJikt  acuta,  Bonaparte.     List  (1838). 

Anas  {boschas)  acuta,  Nuttall.    Man.,  IL  (1834)  380. 

Deschu'tion. 
Tail  of  sixteen  feathers;  bill  black  above  and  laterally  at  the  base;  the  sides 
and  beneath  blue;  head  and  upper  part  of  neek  uniform  dark-brown,  glossed  wtli 
green  and  purple  behind;  inferior  part  of  neek.  breast,  and  under  parts  white;  the 
white  of  neek  passes  up  to  the  nape,  separating,'  the  brown,  and  itseU  ,s  divided 
dorsiUv  bv  black,  which,  below,  passes  into  the  gray  of  the  back;  tiic  back  anteriorly 
and  th(>  -ides  are  finelv  lined  transversely  with  black  and  white ;  the  wings  are  plain 
.,nd  bluish--rav;  the' greater  coverts  with  a  terminal  bar  of  purplish-bull,  below 
which  is  aVcnish-piirple  speculum,  margined  behind  by  black,  and  lipped  with 
white;  longest  tertials  striped  with  silvery  and  greenish-black;  scai-ulars  black, 
edged  with  silvery;   crissum  and  elongated  tail  feathers  black;  the  (oriner  edged 

'"'Female  with  only  a  trace  of  the  markings  of  the  wing;  the  green  of  the  specu- 
lum brownish,  with  a  few  green  spot.;  the  feathers  of  the  back  are  brown,  with  a 
broad  U  or  V-shaped  brownish-yellow  bar  on  each  feather  anteriorly;  sometimes 
those  bars  appear  in  the  shape  of  broad  transverse  lines. 

I  eiigth,  thirtv  inches ;  wing,  eleven ;  tail,  eight  and  sixty  one-hundredths ;  tarsus, 
one  and  seventy-live  ono-hundredths;  commissure,  two  and  thirty-six  one  hun- 
dredths inches. 

jiab.  —  Whole  of  North  America,  and  Europe. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  pretty  common  on  our  shores ;  and 
it  is  much  pursued,  both  for  the  beauty  of  its  plumage 
and  for  the  excellence  of  its  flesh.  It  breeds  in  the  must 
northern  portions  of  the  continent,  where,  NiittuU  says,  "  it 
lays  eight  or  nine  ejrgs  of  a  greenish-blue  color."  It  is  seen 
iu  most  abundance  in  the  autumn  on  our  coast,  where  it 
appears  by  the  10th  of  September,  and  remains  ualil  the 
last  week  in  October.  Wilson  says  it  is  a  shy  and  cau- 
tious bird,  feeds  in  the  mud  flats,  and  shallow  IVesh-watcc 
marshes;  but  rarely  resides  on  the  seacoast.  It  seldom 
dives,  is  very  noisy,  and  has  a  kind  of  chattering  note. 
When  wounded,  they  will  sometimes  dive,  and,  coming  up, 
conceal  themselves  under  the  bow  of  the  boat,  moving  round 
as  it  moves  ;  arc  vigilant  in  giving  the  alarm  on  the  approach 


THE  GREEN-WINGED   TEAL. 


31 


493 

the  way  to  thoi.  native  r  "L      I'v^l     7'''^^"^^'  °'^ 
most  numerous.  "        '         '^*''*^''  ^^^^«^'«  tl^^y  are 

NETTIOX,  Kaup. 

iVV//w«,  Kalt,  Entwick  (1S29).    Gnv     rr 
Uiil  .mutually  narrow,  lon.^or  'l,.,n    h<'r    .  '  ^         '  "'"''"'  ^■'> 
an^lo  not  extending  back  a«  ftr  as  "he  Io2'  ^  "^  ^''''^^  P«''«"^'' '  <'«>  .,pper  lateral 
about  one-liCth  as  wide  as  the  bill.  "^'''  "'"'  '""•^^  '""™^^  ''near,  and 

^^       NETTION    CAR0LINENSIS.-2?,,;,,/. 
The  Green-winged  Teal 

2,»f  r«r"'  "■"""•  ■'-  «"■■■  ""■  '-<)  "..  A„„.  o„.  „i,,,  „,  „,,,, 

AiKi.f  {/wschns)  cncca,  Swainson      V    n        . 
(1S34)  400.  '  ^^^'""^°"-    !'•  lio>--  An..,  11.  (IS3I)  400.    Nmt.  .Van  ,  II. 

iload  and  neck  all  round  chp'>fn„t.    1  •    n    , 
«.«  o,o,conHnucd  a.o„,  t^e  ^^T  "   ^t:  tt  j  '^'"f «!' "-^r;  region  round 
">to  a  blnisb-black  patch  across  the  —lu'"^''"'^'^''^^^ 
J>W.lum  with  roundel  bla.k  spots-  lower  nJ        !  ""-"'  ""'  ''''""''■'■'<  "'' <'ie 

and  bod,,  l„n«.  .cathers  o,'  „  ,;:  ^  ,.'1  ".'"""''"'■'''•  ^'''^'^  '"■'--' 
el-el,  .i,b  black  and  p-ayish-whit  L^:  ^'o  """"'"'^-  """  '-'>•  "-'-i 
secondaries  black,  the  latter  tippcl  w  th  w  li  7""-'  ■^™1"''"-^  •''"'•  "t  outer 

Wing  coverts  plain  .rayish-br:;,,,  tl  "  ^        ;;;:::;^"-  ---  -"•  Wch-,rcen; 

=:;,:::;;:r  sir  i::;;:;r  tr^ 
'■t :;;::::;:  i:;:rt''^v^^=^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

nous-brown.  '  "'  ""-  '""'"'•  ""^'^  -"-''"-  .^tron.ly  ,i„,ed  with  terru.i- 

on  ti'iithi;;!' !nd  io;vi;,".k'.tb.!;;d:rk'br'"'",r'*' ""''' """ "'''''™  ^p^^^ 

l-""«th,  fourteen  inches,  w'  ■".,,',      7"'  *'";  ''''''''  •"'"•"'  -""  P-"- 
<buneen  one-hundredths;  o;u„,  ;;:;;^::        '   ^,:"':";';"-';'-  tarsus,  o,u.  ^nd 

^'*- Whole  Of  North  An.erica ;  ;u:;d:;;;i;r  k;;;;:.""-""""-^^""^  -"- 

autumn  migrations  m  Xew  England ;  arriving  il.  th^ 


i'i 


*  1   J  f  f  H 


&)ir  i4  f    r  iq 


494 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


former  about  the  10th  of  May,  and  in  the  latter  about 
the  second  week  in  September,  and  remaining  until  the 
middle  of  October.  It  frequents  fresh-water  ponds  and 
streams  in  small  flocks,  where  it  feeds  on  various  water 
insects,  their  larva;,  the  seeds  of  aquatic  plants,  and  the 
tadpoles  of  the  different  frogs.  Its  flesh  is  well  flavored, 
and,  with  the  next  species,  is  one  of  the  most  popular  in  all 
our  markets.  I  have  often  seen  individuals  of  this  species 
associate  with  the  ducks  in  a  faruier's  yard  or  duck-pond, 
and  have  known  them  to  come  to  the  barn-yard  with  the 
tame  fowls,  and  eat  with  them  the  corn  thrown  out  for  their 
food.  In  the  water,  it  is  a  graceful  bird,  moving  about 
with  great  activity.  Its  flight  is  rapid ;  and  accompanied 
with  a  whistling  murmur  dilferent  from  that  of  most  of  our 
other  ducks. 

This  bird  probably  breeds  in  the  secluded  lake  districts 
of  the  northern  portions  of  New  England,  as  it  is  found  in 
considerable  abundance  in  localities  in  Nova  Scotia  and 
Canada  in  the  same  latitude.  It  nests  early  in  June,  some- 
times by  thC'20th  of  May. 

The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  in  a  thick  patch  or 
tussock  of  grass,  usiudly  in  meadows  within  a  few  feet  of  a 
small  pond  or  stream.  It  is  constructed  of,  first,  a  thick 
layer  of  soft  pieces  of  grass  and  weeds,  on  which  is  placed  a 
thin  covering  of  the  down  and  feathers  from  the  breast  of 
the  bird.  The  eggs  are  from  five  to  eight  in  number:  they 
are  usually  ovoidal  in  form,  sometimes  nearly  oval,  and  vary 
in  dimensions  from  1.90  by  1.32  inch  (Nova  Scotia)  to  1.78 
by  1.22  inch.     Their  color  is  a  dirty-white,  with  a  slight 


greenish  tint. 


QUERQUEDULA,  Stephens. 


Querquedula,  Stephens,  Shaw's  Gen.  Zool.,  XIL  (1«24).  (Type  Anas  querque- 
dula,  L.) 

Bill  narrow,  lengthened,  a  little  longer  than  the  foot,  widening  a  little  to  the 
end,  which  is  obtusely  rounded;  tlio  tail  occupying  about  one-third  the  width; 
the  laniellaj  visible  in  the  lateral  prolile;  the  upper  lateral  angle  at  the  base  of 
bill  extending  rather  further  back  than  the  lower  edge. 


).    (Type  Anas  querqiie- 


THE  BLUE-WINGED   TEAL.  49.- 

QUEEQUEDULA  BISCORS.  -  SUpJ>ens. 
The  Blue-winged  Teal. 
Anns  discors,  VTihon.    Am.  Orn    Virr  mq,.^  . 
»!■     A,  I.-nls  A,„.,  VI.  (18«)  2";:  ^''''^  ''■     ^"''-  «™-  I^-g-.  IV.  (I83S) 

(1834)397.  .'^"a-ison.    1.  Bor.  Am.,  H.  (1831)444.    Nutt.  Man.,  II. 

DKSCRII>TIf)N. 

oach  feather  witl.  spotZ      b        ^v  .       .!""  """"'  "'  ^'"^   "«■><  P-plish-gray, 
back  witl.  the  feathers >rown;,,',r  """  °'"'^"^  '^"""'^  '"-P-'  « 
feathers  on  the  flanks  ban.le,l\    ,    ,     I  '""":  "'""''"^^  ^"'"'^  °f'  P>"'plish-grav, 

tail  P'eenish-brown;  criss  .'"'"""  '■"'"  P"'-P'i^^''-g™.v ;  luuk  behind  am 

-•apulars  hh,e;  other  .h.,k,L  ^^K,;  ?I"'"'^  """  ■"'""«  "'■  "^  -ter  wehs  of 
buff;  speeulun.  flossy-green;  the  oute  t:!.'''  '"■''"'  '"■^"'"^'^''  ^^"''  P«'«  reddish- 
1-,  the  n.iddle  of  nit  s-n;!':,  T      .r;:^"^'''^  '"''T  "  ^^^  "''^  «^"- 

yeiiowish-white;  back  br^vn,  fi,  S :.  i";;';'!;';:  "r  ^' '"^  '"™'^^'  ''^'y 

on.  .,.,1  twe,«,„„c.|„„„,,,,,„|,,,  „ ,i,~,;;,  ''''''", ""•- '''"'''"'"»■  '"»■>. 

Iiid.cn.  'i.»uu,.iJi(!ai„l  eifliH-rive  oiio-liim.lrciltii, 

;M,  — Eastern  Nnrlti  Ain^ric;!  tn  Pn..i.,.  ir      .  - 
IVlfle  c«.,t  no,  1„  Eumpe.  "'  '^■•""'»»'-    >•«>  !«!  fo.n.l  on   ,1,. 

This  species  is  more  ofte,,  found  i„  small  creek,  „e,,.  n 
.oas.o..e  tl,an  ti.e  Green-winged  Teal;   but  e^i^ 

uall   ,eslMvater  p„„.l,  „„.,  ,t,,,.„„,  ,„  „,^  sal.  wa       a  J 
s  most  al,,m,la,.t  in  mill-|,„njs,  wl.ere  tI.e  water  vari^n 
dc„tl,  n,  d,irerent  clays  ;  there  it  searehcs  in  the  little    ook 
ad  pools,  a„,ong  the  halHsubmerged  recks  and  1„.  erfo 
s  favorite  food  of  aquatic  insects  .and  the  seeds  of  a  u'at^ 

t  ^f  Urn""'"  f™'"  ""  '™"'  '■'■  ^"""=">  "y  "-    "0 

1  a.t  of  Apnl,  soraetnnes  earlier,  and  remains  lin.-erino-  i„ 

smvlyto  the  .North,  where  ,t  breeds;  and  it  then  returns 
f  ™'«''  \"-'  E"gl^"Hl,  i.J  the  middle  of  September,  to  tl  e 
N^uthen,  States,  where  it  passes  the  winter  It  son  etin  s 
breeds  u,  New  England.     George  A.  Boardman,  Esq'  las 


i'lilil 


'  iii.  ■ 


III 


496 


ORNITnOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


found  it  with  young  at  Milltown,  Mc. ;  and  Giraud,  in  his 
"  Birds  of  Long  Island,"  says  that  it  breeds  in  that  locality. 
The  greater  number,  however,  pass  to  the  more  northern 
countries,  where  they  begin  to  lay  early  in  June.  The 
nests  are  similar  to  those  of  the  Green-winged  Teal,  and 
are  placed  in  similar  localities.  The  eggs  are  from  six  to 
ten  in  number.  They  vary  in  form  from  ovate  to  ovoidal, 
and  arc  sometimes  nearly  oval  in  shape :  they  are  of  a  dirty 
yellowish-white  color,  paler  than  that  of  the  eggs  of  the 
Green-winged  Teal.  Tliey  vary  in  dimensions  from  1.95 
l)y  1.35  inch  (Wisconsin)  to  1.74  by  1.30  inch  (Labrador). 
The  surface  of  both  these  eggs,  and  those  of  the  preceding 
species,  is  covered  with  stains  of  a  darker  tint  than  the 
l)rimary  color ;  probably  caused  by  the  feet  of  the  bird,  or 
by  the  decaying  vegetation  which  forms  the  nests  of  both 
s}3ecics. 

SPATULA,  BoiE. 

Stmiula,  BoiE,  I?is  (1822),  664.    (Type  Anns  chipeatn,  L.) 

Bill  much  longer  tlian  the  head  and  spatulate,  widoniiif;  to  the  end,  where  it  is 
twice  as  broad  as  at  the  base;  nail  lonj;  and  narrow;  himellie  oftlie  upper  mandible 
verj'  elose,  delicate,  and  lengthened,  projecting  far  below  the  lower  edge;  tail  acute, 
less  than  half  the  wing. 

SPATULA  CLTPEATA.— 5oie. 

The  Shoveller;  Spoonbill. 

Anns  ch/penln,  Linn.Tns.     Syst,  Nat..  L  (1706)  200.    Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VIIL  (1814). 
Aud.  Orn.Hiog.,  IV.  (1838)  241.     Jh.,  Birds  Am.,  VL  (184.3)  203. 
SjMtiila  dypenta,  Boie.     Isis  (1822),  504. 
Anns  {Spathulen)  chjpentn,  Nuttall.     Man.,  IL  (1834)  375. 

Description. 

Head  and  nock  green;  forepart  and  sides  of  the  breast,  with  greater  portion  of 
scapulars,  and  the  sides  of  the  base  of  the  tail,  white;  rest  of  under  parts  dull  piu-- 
plish-chestnut;  cris.suni,  rump,  and  upper  tail  coverts  black,  the  latter  glossed  with 
green;  wing  coverts  blue,  the  posterior  row  brown  in  the  concealed  portion,  and 
tipped  with  white;  longest  tcrtials  blue,  streaked  internally  with  white;  others  vol- 
vel-green,  streaked  centrally  with  white;  speculum  grass-green,  edged  very  nar- 
rowly bi'hind  wiMi  black,  and  then  with  white. 

Fenii'le  with  the  wing  similar,  but  with  the  blue  of  coverts  and  scapulars  less 


THE  GADWALL. 


497 


■erts  and  scapulars  lesa 


distinct;   hon<\  anrl  n    i    i  ^ 

The  Shovcllor  is  a  ra,v         ■  ""■""*'■""""'■'»'• 

.'■"oly  tl.at  „„o  is  fo„„<j  1,;^".';;''  ■"  "  «oa«„„,  and  it  | 
«  as  often  found  i„  fl-es,,  „  '  '  "  «  ""'"ro  pl.nnago.  It 
"ooks  and  ba,s  noa  ?  P"""! -"  »'-ms  as°in  tl  o 
"o«hcm  portions  of  tho  c^tC'co' ,''?''  '"  "'^  ™»' 

Texas  westward  to  fl,o  Columb!  R  "'""''»«°n  "from 
counfios."  Says  Nnttall  "i  T'  "'"""o  '»  «'e  fur 
'"  Bai'Ion,  the/  disport  'thro,:;;  2\'''"'''  "-'»■'""« 
I'-od  and  select  ti,e  sa„,e  p  a„o  'w  I  ^""J"  ^'■""^  '» 
cl.oos.ug.  will,  t],cm  largo  tnf  s  o7r  °  *^"""™-  Toal ; 

withered  grass  iu  tl,o  n  "  t  ,  "'""'  """^'"S  "  "est  of 
0  access,  near  waters.  T  'o^fi/"''  /««-■"  Plaees 
"f  a  very  palo  greeuisl.-ycllo;  the  f  ^  '°  ''""*™' 
fonr  or  twenty-live  days."  "'°  f™"'"  sits  twenty. 

Tlie  .'spoonbill  feeds  lii^^  *i 

v-ions  aquatic  in^lts'  Z^-  tT"''''  ^"*'  » 
eats  but  few  seeds  „f  ao,.al  c  ,,1  V  "'  ""'""'  "«>  Teals, 
o^-amined,  killed  in  Piym,  2/  '  ^  /^  ^"»'=""''"  «'at  I 
a^l.  filled  with  s„,„  ;,  "c  '";  l7"'^'  ""««■'  '-d  its  stem- 
»■■  two  tadpoles:  there  wer„  a LX  °'"""°  ™"'''  """  <»>» 
coans,  but  so  small  that  it  wiT„  1  ""I?'''  '"'^"""'  "-"sla- 

't«as  impossible  to  identify  them. 

CMUI.ELAS.MUS,  Ghay 

CHAnLELASMUSSmPEEl7S.-C,.„,. 
The  Gadwall;   Gray  Duck. 

^--^..;.e.a,Linn»us,Wi,.on,a„d„tho«. 

32 


;  I,  i«i| 


11     -r^fc 


498 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


UkSCIMI'TION. 

jl/„;,._ncn(l  and  nock  brownisli-wliitc,  emli  fontluir  spotted  witli  diii'ky;  the 
top  of  head  tiiif^cd  with  wddisli;  lower  part  of  nc.k,  witli  forepart  of  l.reast  and 
back,  bhickish,  witti  concentric  narrow  bars  of  wiiite,  giving  a  scaU'd  app.'arance  to 
tlie  feathers;  interscapuhir  region,  outermost  scnpubirs,  and  sides  of  the  body,  lineiy 
waved  transversely  with  black  and  white;  middle  win;,'  coverts  chestnut,  the 
greater  velvet-blaJk,  succeeded  by  a  iiure-white  siieculum,  bordered  externally  by 
honn,--grav,  succeeded  bv  black;  crissuni  and  ui-  il  cov  ,;.^  bl..ck;  longest  ter- 
tials"hoary  phnnbeous-jjray ;   innermost  scapul  reddish  tin-e;   nisido  of 

wint?  ami  axillars  pure-white;  bill  black;   iris  h. 

j.\,,„„le.  —  With  tlie  bill  dusky,  ed-ed  wilh  reda.  ,  wing  iomew'  :it  like  tliat  of 
the  male,  but  with  the  chestnut-red  more  restricted. 

Lenj,'th,  twentv-two  inches;  ^uujX,  ten  and  tifty  onc-hnndredths;  tarsus,  one  and 
sixty-fmir  one-humlredths;  commissure,  two  and  four  one-hundredths  inches. 

The  Gadwall  is  a  rare  a\itumiial  visitor  in  New  England, 
and  is  seldom  seen  in  the  spring  as  it  is  passing  to  its 
northern  breeding-places.    Andubon,  in  describing  its  habits, 

says, — 

"  This  species  dives  well  on  occasion,  especially  on  being 

wonnded.      At  the  appearance  of  danger,  it  rises  on  wing 

—  whether  from  the  ground  or  from  the  water  —  at  a  single 

spring,  in  the  manner  of  the  :Mallard  ;    and,  like  it  also, 

ascends   almost   pcri)endicidarly    for    several    yards,   after 

which  it  moves  off  in  a  direct  course  with  great  celerity.    I 

have  never  seen  it  dive  on  the  flash  of  the  gun ;  but,  when 

approached,  it  alway^i  swims  to  the  opposite  part  of  the 

])ond,  and,  when  the  danger  increases,  flies  off.     On  being 

wonnded,  it  sometimes,  by  diving,  makes  its  escape  among 

the  grass,  where  it  s(iuats,  and  remains  concetiled.    It  walks 

with"  ease,  and  prettily,  often  making  incursions  upon  tlie 

land,  when  the  ponds  are  not  surrounded   by   trees,  for 

the  imrpose  of  searching  for  food.     It  nibbles  the  tender 

shoots  and  blades  of  grasses  with  apparent  pleasure ;  and 

will  feed  on  beech-nuts,  acorns,  and  seeds  of  all  kinds  of 

gramineaj,  as  well  as  on  tadpoles,  small  fishes,  and  leeches. 

After  rain,  it  alights  in  cornilelds,  like  the  Mallard,  and 

picks  up  the  scattered  grains  of  maize." 

The  eggs  of  this  species  are  from  eight  to  twelve  in  mini- 
ber.    Their  color  is  a  pale-drab,  with  a  slight  olivaceous  tint : 


iomow'  :it  like  tliat  of 


New  En<'lau( 


THE   AMERICAN   mOGEOV 


499 


•ago 


MARECA,  Stephens. 

'-■••'••  "-  •->,  wind,  is  ,.a  C  ;,  " f  ';i""""  ">«  inner  too  d.w  tl.e  .• , 

tlie  wind's.  ^       ''"^  '"Ilk  as  t\w  lower  odKf..  ♦.•,  '  *'"■'  ''"-"e 

''"'-  ^Vtl-A,n,.^Va„  ,„„  p  '^'''  *■"' P-'tccI,  „ot  hajf 

«"<;'y  wave.,  transversely"    .^""'r"  !'"''•'-  "f  •'^''vm  hav.  „,   , 

;;""  "K.  usual  exceptio,,;,  .„   I    j   .,;""' f-^'  -  rea.,ish.,ro,v V,         ,  I;  ^^^^ 

creain-eolor;   the  n,.,.t  .  "•     ^ ''«  top  of  tlu.  i,„„  ,  •  "''^^'^  rnrts, 

-'■i'o,  the  letter  ti;::  :;-,-;,  ^p'"^^«=  ti  .;■;;':  ;;;;•-•■  «hite  „; 
one  of  the.  i.a.;'  '"^  ""^^  ^^^  -'-"  ^viti,  ^^oao^;;:',!' :;:;L':::;::;:,';;; 

The  American  Wideeon  •  t»oij 

-''n,odvli..|,.L::/''"''-'^'''''^'''in  uniform 


'  'le  fonmie  has  the  lien  I       i 
-".s  as  i„  the  „.ah,  the  ,,,;.";:   i;;;;!:;""";^"";  ;">"'-,  ln.t  spotte,.  to  the  MH. 
coverts  extenclins  .-%htlv  over        '"'''^ '^P'''^'^«"'y  brown;  thejrravof.l     , 

»    "fei'tij  o;tT  the  muMIe  ones:  back  inl  /      ,   '  "' Hie  lesser 

'     '"•''  """'  scapulars  with  rather 


600 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


broad  and  distant  transverse  bars  of  roddisb-wbite,  eaeb  fcatberwitb  two  ortlirec  in- 
terrupted alon«  tiie  sbafts;  tbese  urc  inueli  wIcUt  and  more  distant  tliun  in  tiie  male. 
Length,  twenty-one  and  seventy-five  one-liundredtlis  inehes;  wing,  eleven;  tar- 
sus, one  and  forty-two  onc-lumdredths ;  commissure,  one  and  eighty  one-hundrcdths 

incjies. 

JJab.  —  Continent  of  North  America.    Accidental  in  Europe. 

This  beautiful  bird  is  found  in  small  flocks  of  four  or  five 
individuals  in  the  spring  and  fall  migrations,  and  is  more 
often  found  in  the  fresh-water  ponds  and  streams  in  the 
interior  than  in  the  salt  water  on  the  coast. 

It  breeds  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  Country,  early  in  June. 
The  nest  is  placed  on  the  ground,  as  I  am  informed,  in  the 
marshes  and  sterile  plains  of  that  country,  and  resembles 
very  much  the  nest  of  the  common  Black  or  Dusky  Duck. 
The  eggs  are  from  eight  to  twelve  in  number.  They 
resemlde  those  of  the  Blue-winged  Teal  in  form  and  color, 
being  a  dirty  yellowish-white.  They  average  in  dimensions 
about  2.05  by  1.50  inch. 

The  food  of  this  bird  consists  principally  of  the  tender 
leaves  and  roots  of  aquatic  plants,  which  it  obtains,  when  in 
company  with  the  Canvas-back,  by  stealing  from  that  bird  ; 
the  latter  diving,  and  bringing  it  up  from  tl'o  bottom  of  the 
water,  and  the  Widgeon   seizing  it  when  appears  at 

the  surface. 

AIX,  BoiE. 

Aix,  BoiE,  Isis  (1828),  329.     (Type  Anas  galericuhta,  L.) 

IMll  very  high  at  tlie  base,  where  the  npper  lateral  angle  runs  buck  much  i,  1 
the  lower  edge  of  tlie  bill;  nostrils  very  large,  and  scarcely  enveloped  by  nu 
brane;  the  feathers  of  the  forehead  reaching  to  their  posterior  edge;  nail  very  larg, 
and  much  hooked,  oecupving  the  entire  tip  of  bill;  lamelhc  depressed,  broad,  and 
distant;  bill,  from  feathers  of  forehead,  shorter  than  the  head,  and  equal  to  the  tar- 
sus- head  crested;  claws  short,  much  curved,  and  very  sharp;  tail,  about  half  tlie 
wings,  vaulted,  cuneate,  but  truncate  at  the  tip;  the  coverts  nearly  as  long  as 
the  leathers. 

-t         AIX  SPONSA.  —  5c«e. 

The  Summer  Duck ;  Wood  Duck. 
Anns  sponsn,  Linnicus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1766)  207.    Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VIIL  (18U) 
97.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IIL  (1S35)  52;  V.  618.    Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  VI.  (1843)  271. 
Aix  upmsa,  Boie.    Isis  (1828),  329. 
Anas  {Boschas)  sponsa,  Nuttall.     Man.,  II.  (1834)  394. 


THE  SUMMER  DUCK. 


501 
Head  and  crest  mefallic-«ree„  to^'lTT"'"- 

slarlinff  holow  and  b(.|,i,„i  ,,,  "'^"^'  """"'"r  on  (he  „nn  ,  "'""« 

violet,  surcPoded  l.v  a  „r      •  "^ '""'  "^  "'"(«  bar  at  tl.„       ,    *'''^'  ^''"'*-^«I  oa 

J't''iKth,„,netet.n  indies-  u-in,r     •  '^'"-Ha\ed 

-^r..  ..e-,...a,-edH.s:  ..:..  •:;;;^  :;:;;;';,,;^>:  one...n„drod.,s;   tar..,  one  and 
//"^.-Continent  of  North  Ana-rica         ""^ -'""■•""«-'' ""Jredths  inches. 

This,  the  most  beautiful  of  all  n,„.  n    ,     • 
Jaatly  distributea  through  N       ]  l?"t.'  ^^  P''«^^^'  -»>••- 
-son       Wilsotfs   desedptior  of    f  ";'/•;  ^"^  ^--'•"^' 
bettor  than  I  can  give   tint  T  .     ,  '*'   '^   ««  "'^'^h 

it.     He  says,-      ^      '  "'  ^  ''''^'  ^  ^il>«''al  extract  from 

I'^l.iiKls.     During  the  "    "^  ~^ 

wliole  of  our  winters, 

tliey  are  occasionally 

seen  in  tlio  States 
south  of  the  Potomac. 
OntholOthofJanua- 
'y.  I  met  witli  two  on 
a  oi-eek  near  Petcu-s- 
l»irg,  in  Virginia.    In 

the  more  northern  dis-  — -""-"  ^^^^^^^^.^^^^ 

tricts,  however,  they  are  mi-ratorv      Tn  P  T     •        ''=^'"^'*^ 


502 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOGY. 


have  been  known  wliore  tlie  neat  was  constrnctod  of  a  few  sticks 
laid  in  a  forii  of  the  branclit's :  usually,  however,  the  inside  of 
a  liollow  tree  is  selecti-d  for  this  jnirposo.  On  the  IHth  of  May, 
I  visited  a  tree  coutaininij  the  nest  of  a  Summer  Duck,  on  tiie 
banks  of  Tuckahoe  River,  New  JiTsi^y.  It  was  an  old,  gro- 
tes(jue  white  oak,  whose  top  had  been  torn  oil"  by  a  stwrm.  It 
stood  on  tiie  decHvity  of  the  bank,  about  twenty  yards  from  tlic 
water.  In  this  hollow  and  broken  top,  and  about  six  feet  down,  on 
the  soft,  decayed  wood,  lay  thirteen  e<f,t;s,  snugly  eoveri'd  with 
down,  doubtless  taken  from  the  breast  of  the  bird.  These  eggs 
were  of  an  exact  oval  shape,  less  than  those  of  a  Hen  ;  the  surface 
exceedingly  fine-grained,  and  of  the  highest  polish,  and  slightly 
vellowish,  greatly  resembling  old.  polished  ivory.  The  egg  meas- 
ured two  inches  and  an  eighth  by  one  inch  and  a  half.  On 
breaking  one  of  them,  the  young  bird  was  found  to  In:  nearly 
hatched,  but  dead,  as  neither  of  the  parents  had  been  observed 
about  the  tree  during  the  three  or  four  days  preceding,  and  were 
conjectured  to  have  been  shot. 

"This  tree  had  been  occupied,  probably  by  the  same  pair,  for 
four  successive  years,  in  breeding-time  :  the  pt'rson  who  gave  ine 
the  information,  and  whose  house  was  within  twenty  or  thirty  yards 
of  the  tree,  said  that  he  had  seen  the  female,  the  spring  preceding, 
carry  down  thirteen  young,  one  by  one.  in  less  than  ten  minutes. 
She  caught  them  in  her  bill  by  the  wing  or  back  of  the  neck,  and 
landed  them  safely  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  whence  she  afterwards 
led  them  to  the  water.  Under  this  same  tree,  at  the  time  I  visited 
it,  a  large  sloop  lay  on  the  stocks,  nearly  iinished :  the  di'ck  was  not 
more  than  twelve  feet  distant  from  the  nest ;  yet,  notwithstanding 
the  presence  and  noise  of  the  workmen,  the  Ducks  would  not  al)an- 
doii  their  old  breeding-place,  but  continued  to  pass  out  and  in,  as  if 
no  person  had  been  near.  The  male  usually  perched  on  an  adjoin- 
ing limb,  and  kei)t  watch  while  the  female  was  laying,  and  also 
often  while  she  was  sitting.  A  tame  Goose  had  chosen  a  hollow 
space,  at  the  root  of  the  same  tree,  to  lay  and  hatch  her  young  in. 

"  The  Sunnner  Duck  seldom  flies  in  flocks  of  more  than  three  or 
four  individuals  together,  and  most  commoidy  in  pairs  or  singly. 
The  counnon  note  of  the  Drake  is  pect,  peef ;  but  when,  standing 
sentinel,  he  sees  danger,  he  makes  a  noise  not  unlike  the  crowing 


THE  SEA    DUCKS. 


the  same  juiir,  for 


of  a  youii-  c(„-k,  of  eek!  o,.  p^-  '    Tl,o!,.  r     ^ 

i;.^Hor  to  t..at  of  n.e  i;,::;:;::^  :;::^^^^ 

Mm  iimrlifis  of  Pliil,„|,J|,l,i„.»     "  'l«7  ;„■„  f,-,.,,i,i,„t  i„ 

Tiio  eggs  of  tho  Suumuir  Duck  am  „f  „   >•  .       . 
wl.ito  color.    Then-  (;,,■„,  v„.i,.,  f,-  ''"■'^'  J'«''°«i«l.- 

Ti.is  .spocios  i,  oa«i ;  .1, , ; ;tl  /'is'''"'"^'  ""^■"»)- 

vcy  ta,„,,.    It  b,«,i»  i,  c,,,,    :  ,  :^"''  "'f  ^°°"  •'-"■"^ 
the  halMts  of  the  doMu.»lic   M.     ,     i  '■""'""■""  "" 

fee  o-  s.„,„„  f„,.  it.  ..;.;■„ '1;,!!:;,"' ""  "'"'"'■" » "»""- 

ti-o  .,i,*,  „,,ie„  i,o'',l'  >  ' ;,  :^,::';  "f  "-^  of 

.-,Iy  .„e  most  bea,ui,„l  „„a  „,,..    ,    j  ,    1'    J.T,""- 


Sub-Fami/^  Fvuovuy.r..- Ue  Sra  Buds. 
Tiie  chief  clianictcr  nf  tin  /.'.,/■     ;■ 

"» - .-  •■"■■' ;.:.!  1;  ::r::- "  ::,t::;:,:; - '-  -*"  ■•» 

""'•'•"•>•  s..r(a..o  of  tho  hind  tne;  the  .....t         ,  '""  '"^l'""<l^''l  f™n  the 

sl-rt,  ,ho  le,.  .set  ,ar  haek. ,.,  ,  t      ,      ,   ?     "     V  '""""'""^'•^'  '"•«"'  *"«  »-«' 
•""1  'living:   ...any  ..C  the  sH.ie         e         ''"!:"""  """  ''»'"'  *'-  ■^-i,„„.„g 

*-...  ^..-...  n..e .  ,e. ^1..,.^;: ::;;:;:n,^::;r--;;£^^  -^ 

FULIX,    SUMJKVALL. 

^vi.i.ou.  ,h.^,ai. ,  "Liliie :':::':;;:;,  ":;:;v"  ;•"• ;-«.  -"  - 1.,:  n,i.h„e .. 

'"  "•'•""  tlu.  .s.,„e  .li>,a,u.e;  ,m    ,  ^^       ,;     V''?  r' "'''"'"''^' ^^^    .^l^litly,  a.ul 
l-asal  t„„-,i,t„s  .,f,he  hill     „  ■  '      ,'  '"""""'  '"  *'"-•  ""^^"-'"^  P"-''""  of  the 

or  wi,ie„iM.-  ,.,  ,he  ,i    .  i      /    '■'""'^'  ""-'  "'"'•"''=  '■''«-  '"■  '"■"  ab.„„  parallel 

-tone.,hi;, the;  h  •£'■;;;•?""  '^  •!'"  :"'''^^'"""  '^  <---''  -S 

-sus  aho..t  half  the  rui^  i^'  ^'^  Jil't'r  '■'■""■'"'"•"'""  «^  "^  *'P' 

r-nded,  of  n^uHee,.  .eathe..;   head  a„         :k       .:i  '"'«  "^ '"^  *^^''   *""  ^""'^. 


/I.  ■ 


I 


604 


ORNITHOLOOY    AND   OOLOOY. 


84 


FDLIX  UAUILA.- naird. 
The  Soaup  Duck;  Big  Black  Head)  Blue  Bill. 
Anns  marila,  UimmiH.    Syst.  Nat,,  I.  (170ti)  lull.     WUh.  Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1«14) 

Fiiln/uln  mtritn,  Audubon.     BinU  Am.,  VII.  (1843)  368.     (Jir.  Hirds  I,   Islun.l 
(1844)321. 

Dksckiption. 

TIciul  nm\  iKM'k  nil  round,  juKuluui  iiih!  sIiouMitm,  lower  part  of  Imik,  tiiil,  luid 
cov.Ttf-,  himk;  tlu'  licail  with  a  jri,,^,  „|'  (!ark-f,'rfcn  on  flio  .sides;  r.'st  ofundor  parts 
white;  feutliers  on  tlio  lower  parts  of  belly  mid  on  tho  siden,  the  Iouk  featliers  of  the 
flanks,  the  iuferseapulum,  and  the  seapulars,  wliite,  waved  in  ziK/a«  trausverselv 
witli  Mark;  ^creater  and  iniddl<>  wiiij,'  .overts  similarly  marked,  l)nt  more  linelv  and 
ol)seire|y;  greater  eoverts  towards  tlie  tip  ami  the  tertials  Kreenisli  .|,laek';  the 
speeulum  is  white,  l)ordered  l,ehind  by  Kreenish-blaek;  tlie  white  extendin«  across 
thu  wlKdo  eentrnl  portion  of  the  secondaries;  outer  prinniries  and  lips  of  ail,  brown- 
ish-blaok;  inner  ones  pale-Kray;  the  eentralline  dusky ;  axillars  ami  middle  of  the 
Inferior  HurlUco  of  the  win^  wliite;  bill  blue;  the  nail  blaek;  le(,'s  plumbeous-  ina 
yeliow.  ' 

Female  with  the  head  brown:  the  region  all  roiuid  the;  base  of  the  bill  white;  the 
undulatiiuis  of  blaek  ami  white  on  the  feathers  wanting',  or  but  faintlj  ■  'ated 
above. 

Length,  twenty  inehes;  wing,  nine;  tarsus,  one  and  fifty-eight  ono-hundrcdtha 
inches;  commissure,  two  and  sixteen  one-lmudredth8  inches. 
Jliib.  —  Whole  of  North  Amerieii  and  Europe. 

This  .sjiccios  is,  nltliouj«li  not  abumlaiit,  generally  met 
with  on  onr  coast  in  spring  and  fall.  It  seldom  penetrates 
far  inland,  but  i)refei's  the  bays  and  months  of  ci-ceivs  on  tho 
shore,  where  it  has  all  the  hal)its  of  the  sea  Ducks.  1  jiave 
known  of  its  being  taken  in  small  nnmbers  on  Punkiipoag 
Pond,  Massachn.setts,  where  it  associated  with  the  eoinmoii 
Dnsky  Dnek.  Oirand,  in  his  ''  IJirds  of  Long  Island," 
speaks  of  it  as  ]»eing  very  ai)undant  on  onr  coasts  ;  ari'ivino' 
from  the  North  from  the  lUth  to  the  2()th  of  ()et<iber  iii 
largo  Hocks.  Sfy  experience  has  been,  that  it  is  far  from 
being  an  abundant  sjiecies ;  and  that  it  is  more  often  seen 
in  flocks  of  not  more  than  eight  or  ten  birds  than  in  larger 
parties.  Its  habits,  however,  may  vary  in  dill'erent  localities ; 
and  it  may  be  al)nndant,  like  many  other  species,  in  some 
Bcctions,  when  it  is  comparatively  scarce  in  others. 

It  passes  to  tho  most  northern  countries  to  spend  tho 


^««  ^'TTL.  BLACK-HEAD. 


;lit  ono-liuiidrc(ltli8 


«"''  otl,er  l„.„U,ie,  i„       ,   ':    '  "  --.try,;,,  ^ ^;^" 

""■-I" ".  .!,„  „„„„,,  ,4,,,,,  J '" "-  no,,  or  „,„  „„„._.,,  ^,^;;; 

'T'"'  I-ittle  Black-head;  Blue  Bill 
^  «%</.«  ,«,W,i;.raud.    Hi,.,,  I    ,,      .  -(1839)014.     /«„ 

Tiiii  hi         ■  I*Kstiiii-ri(..\. 

"Ill  nldo;    (lif.  „„j|  (,| ,  K      , 

X;'::i::;;i  :.:;'■  "^'■-' «"i  tt:;;:  t;-;' "; ^  ■■"-*' .» 

r; ".' ."";» :;i;rr;~r'f7—  •^"«  :.:  i,,'r;;;r"';; ■ 

'""■" .,»,  :•  J ,  ,:n    ' '-  "'"'«■-    :rr'"';'"-' ' 

A'll.^dl      ..iv,  ,  ^    •UlIKl.st    Clltlrt.   y 

.  """'■^-'^"'•"""-I'undml.h.si.H.h 

|-^  -  "--  abundant  rZ'^Z  ''\  '^  »^"^-'  '"'^^''^^^ 
^"^^^•''  to  our  gunners  by  ,  '  '  I'V^  ''  ^'^^''-^^- 
It  appears  in  our  creeks 'ad  ,  '    "^^"^^-^'''i  Coot.'' 

7'"'^'"«  ^^i"!  "-s  until  late  i     N^?r  ^'^  '"  ^'^'^"'^'^''•'  ^nd 
tl'^'  reason  is  nuld  and  0^  "'  '^"^'  ^^'^^^  ^^^^er,  if 


506 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


"The  food  of  the  Scaup  Duck  I  have  found  to  consist  of 
small  fry,  cray-fishos,  and  a  mixture  of  such  grasses  as  here 
and  there  grow  along  the  beds  of  our  rivers."— Audubon. 
It  is  an  expert  diver,  and  can  remain  a  considerable  time 
under  water.  When  wounded,  it  often  dives,  and,  clinging 
to  the  weeds  or  rocks  at  the  bottom  of  the  water,  remains 
there  until  dead ;  and  often  the  V)ird  docs  not  rise  to  the 
surface  until  the  whole  warmth  of  it  has  left  its  body,  when 
the  muscles,  losing  their  contracti  jn,  permit  tlie  bird  to  float 
off.  Very  often  it  docs  not  come  to  the  surface  at  all,  Avhen 
thus  wounded  and  dying,  but  remains  like  a  stone  on  the 
bottom  until  its  parts  become  separated  by  the  waves,  or  i)y 
crabs  or  other  crustaceans.  Of  the  breeding  habits  and 
nest  of  this  bird  I  am  ignorant.  I  have  but  a  single  egg  in 
iny  collection,  from  Youkon.  This  is  ovoidal  in  fc  m,  of 
a  dirty  pale-drab  color,  and  is  2.25  inch  in  length,  and 
1.60  at  its  greatest  breadth. 


AYTIIYA,  BoiE. 

^y;«/r»,  Don:,  Isis(  1822).     (Tyi^c  Ann,  ferlnn,L.) 

Vcrv  siniil.-r  to  FaU./ida  in  general  chanK'tfrs  of  shi>pe ;  the  bill  clonsate,!,  lon-or 
than  the  hea.l,  and  about  e.iual  to  the  mi.Ulle  toe  with  the  flaw;  the  bill  urn-, 
.lender  in  one  sp.oic-s,  the  nail  smaller  and  less  deeurved;  the  bill  higher  at  base, 
and  the  nnper  outline  nearly  straight  to  beyond  tl.o  end  of  the  nostrils,  whieli  do 
not  quite  reach  the  middle  of  the  \,ill ;  colors  similar  to  those  of  Fuhyula ;  the  head 
and  neck  red ;  tail  of  Iburteeu  feathers. 


AYTHYA  AUEVilCXTSI A.  —  nonaparte. 
The  Red  Head. 

Amsferinn,W\hon.    Am.  Orn.,  VUI.  (1814)  84. 

F„lh/ul.,  Arlna,  Nuttall.  Man,  H.  (1834)  434.  Aud.  Orn.  B.og.,  IV.  (18.3o) 
198.    y6.,UiidsAm,,  VI.  (1843)311. 

DESCIUI'TION. 

Hill  as  long  as  the  head,  broad,  blue,  the  end  black;  the  region  anterior  to  tlic 
no<.trils  duskv;  head,  and  neck  for  more  than  half  its  length,  brownisli-ied,  glo.s.,1 
above  and  bJliind  with  violaceous-red;  rest  of  neck  and  body  ai.teriur  to  the  sl„mi- 
der<  1..W.T  nart  of  ba.k  and  tail  coverts,  black;  beneath  white,  sprinkled  witli  gray 
and 'black  anterior  to  the  crissum;  the  sides,  intersca,mlars,  and  scapulars  tiiieiy 
lined  with  uii.lulating  black  and  white  in  nearly  e-iual  i.roporUons,  iiniiarting  a 


THE  CANVAS-BACK   DUCK. 


Om.  Biog.,  IV.  (1835) 


607 

ffoneral  gray  tint;  winff  covert,  hlnUh 

^pecuhnn,  consisting  of  tl,e    1  J ''  t?''  !'"''  ''"'"'"«"  -'«>  -'"tish-  the 

-^-nally.  an,.  „.e  innennost  nU^S^;::  "'■'";,  """^  ^^^''-^''-Wu       ghtt 

'j'lij  .  "  "-atiieis;  iris 

ir:::;;;::  ,^r" '-  -  « -=  -.tJ;^:;:  ;;:r  ;r  ,:.x' 

If^^i'iale  with  the  lioa.I   neck   .,n,i  r 
I'-  '•"-  of  the  hi,l  .,,iHsh        '  "  '"'■"'"'■'  °'"  '^"-'-^•.  l--'-h;  the  region  round 

one-h,nuiredth.s  inches.  ^     ''  ''""^'■""Jths  j  commissure,  two  and  thirty 

//"6— Whole  of  xXorth  America. 

This  liaiulsomo  bird  is  nrntfv  oi       i 
wlioro  it  xt«„ally  prefers  tlo!     ,f  I'"'^'"*  ""  °^^^  '''^'«^-««^ 
creeks:  it  is  also  i  .         ; :;  n"  ^'^>;^  ^"^  -tuanes  of' 
water,  where  it  feeds  ou       Tencler  lo"'      ''  !"''^  ''  '^''^'^ 
various  aquatic  plants  and  s m  m  r  ]       ".  '"^  ^'^^^^  ^^  «ie 

i-octs.  I  fottnd  scv;:;^: ;  ^.^tf  :;^  ^"-^"-^^  ^^"^«« 

l^agog  Lakes  in  June ;  and  n  •  k  it     T    "'''''  "^  *^'«  ^^^"- 
'•t  does  not  breed  the  e    t  wiH T.f       ?   ""Possible,  that,  if 
ti^e  lake  regions  of  ::;.^rNj^:^^^ 
served,  in  varions  h,calities,  as  la te  a  1h  '^^    t      T  ''  "  ^'- 
'"Kl  it  can  be  hardly  possible  that  .H  t      ,     ,  '""'^  "^  '^''''''^ 
are  barren.  ^  ""^  ^'''^  ^""'J^  "'"«  observed 

j^^^j^_         .     pec.cs,  that  the  same  remarks  will  apply  to 
Of  its  breeding  habits,  nest,  and  eggs,  I  am  ignorant. 

AmiA    VALLlSHEmA.- Bonaparte. 
The  Canvas-back  Duck. 
A>>asram.„eri.,^ViUou.    Am.  Or„..  Vm.  (1814)  in. 
;'/f  ^"/'"'''^■'"''•'".  Honaparte.     Li.st  (I83S)  ' 


508 


ORNITHOLOGY   AN7J   OOLOGY. 


Desckiption. 

Bill  long,  slender,  and  tapering;  head  all  round  and  neck  chestnut;  the  top  of 
the  head  and  region  around  the  base  of  the  bill  dusky-brown;  rest  of  neck,  body 
anterior  to  the  shoulders,  back  behind,  rump  and  tail  coverts,  black ;  under  parts 
white;  the  region  anterior  to  the  anus,  the  sides,  the  interscapulars  and  scapulars, 
white,  finely  dotted,  in  transverse  line,  with  black,  the  white  greatly  predominating; 
speculum  bluish-gray,  lighter  externally;  the  innermost  secondaries  of  the  specu- 
lum edged  externally  with  black;  iris  carmine. 

Female  with  the  black  and  chestnut  replaced  by  brown,  the  checks  and  chin 
lighter,  and  some  tinged  with  dull-rufous. 

Length,  twenty  and  ten  one-hundredths;  wing,  nine  and  thirty  one-hundredthsj 
tarsus,  one  and  seventy  one-hundredths;  commissure,  two  and  sixty-live  inches. 

Tiie  Canvas-back  is  rarely  taken  in  New  England.  I 
have  seen  a  few  that  were  killed  in  Pnnkapoag  Pond,  Can- 
ton, Mass.  J.  A.  Allen  speaks  of  its  being  occasionally 
found  at  the  western  part  of  the  State ;  and  I  once  killed 
one  in  Lake  Urabagog,  Me.  It  generally  passes  to  its 
nortliern  breeding-grounds,  and  back  to  its  winter  homo, 
through  tlie  interior  of  the  country,  seldom  by  the  scal)oartl, 
at  least  north  of  Pennsylvania ;  and,  when  found  in  New 
England,  is  only  a  wanderer  from  the  great  flight. 

Wilson,  in  describing  its  habits,  says, — 

"  The  Canvas-back  Duck  arrives  in  the  United  States  from  the 
north  about  the  middle  of  October :  a  few  descend  to  the  Hudson 
and  Delaware;  but  tlie  great  body  of  these  birds  resort  to  tlic 
nimierous  rivers  belonging  to  and  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  the 
Chesapeake  Bay,  particularly  the  Susciuehanna,  the  Patapsco, 
Potomac,  and  James  Rivers,  which  appear  to  be  their  general 
winter  rendezvous.  Beyond  this,  to  the  south,  I  can  find  no  cer- 
tain accounts  of  them.  At  the  Susquehanna,  they  are  called 
Canvas-backs;  on  the  Potomac,  White-backs;  and  on  -Tames 
River,  Sheldrakes.  They  are  seldom  found  at  a  great  distance  up 
any  of  these  rivers,  or  even  in  the  salt-water  bay,  but  in  that  par- 
ticular part  of  tide-water  where  a  <-(n-tain  grass-like  plant  grows,  on 
the  roots  of  whi(-h  they  feed.  This  plant,  which  is  said  to  be  ii 
species  of  vaUisncna,  grows  on  fresh-water  shoals  of  from  seven 
to  nine  feet  (but  never  where  these  are  occasionally  dry),  in  lou^'. 
narrow,  grass-like  blades,  of  four  or  live  feet  in  length :  the  root  is 
white,  and  has  some  resemblance  to  small  celery.     This  grass  is  in 


i  checks  and  cliin 


THE   CANVAS-BACK   DUCK. 

609 
oiany  places  so  tliick  thif       » 

'l-»..gl.  it.  it  »„  i„,«,e,  ,1,1  "„';""»"  ,"!"'  <Me„l,y  be  rowed 
'|.iai,litie»  of  it,  ton,  „,,  by  ,|,e'  n„J,  ,  °™  ""  """•^  '"'tli  large 
Iving,  like  hay,  i„  .^^^^  W  tC  .'"f  ""  "'  *^  -•'■*■ 

v.».l.s,  or  to  ,„ake  it  tbeir  re^uhr  ro  il  '°  I'"''  °«""0'«.l 

occurs  i„  some  „„r„  „f  tl.e  I,,",,;':*"?  ';";"«  "'«  »">'-■     Jt 
«»ter,  a  few  miles  below  Pbila.kb" '  ,  °='»*'"»-  "»»f  Glo„- 

'"a.  fall  i„totbe  Cbe,„peak„,  _     :  4"'';''" ',""'  "  """  *™ 
>l.cse  Ducks  resort;  while  i,  wal  I""*"'"'' l>lace, 

.ive  plant,  the,  are  al.o;;;,:™;!::"'*^ ''''''  "*  "«"- 

"av'l-GraSt:;:^:':::;;:*  '^  •"°  «-'^-'--car 
of  their  favorite  foo^  tl^'to  "i^  i";:  '«.™*  «  theabn„„a„ee 
'Ley  are  i„  pretty  goo.,  o;,rT  L  "X'J  f  f '="*'■•• 
swim  with  great  speed  an,l  „.,i|i,v      Tl  '"'  ''"'"'■■'•  "»<' 

such  mnlliia.les  as  to  cover  Icv.^^.l      "^ '"'""'""c*  "'semble  in 
they  rise  sn.l.lenly,  pr«h  eo  Tn  °'  "'=  "'"•  "''■  »''» 

float  abont  these  'sbo'ak    ,,,„::;  T  ■""    ■"°  ""'■*'•     ""^ 
■■oo.^.  win,.],  is  the  only  pa:.;"r,;, .T^r^f  ""  ""  ''"■"'  "^  "» 

-h™pi.,i.y,-„.S,;:^;V-M-;;^;™;.;;...^^^ 

tltey  „„iforn,ly  b,^,g  13,';!°  "^"f '  """  ""=  '"=""  vL 
wi...i„  gunshi  of  .l.e.n.  ^  '  "  '.c:*:,::;,'™'-;' '"  ="« 
<lccoyn,g  ,hem  to  ,he  shore  by  means  T,  ? ,     ""''  '°  '"' 

»»  -'"-'I  "ueealcl  in  a  pro  .r::I,    "-;     f,    ;=  S-"-'. 

within  tweiitv  or  thirty  vir.l.  nf  n  '      "^  sometimes 

c«..eeale,l,  a„;,  fr„,„  wliel"  k     'tC  ^  T"  "i:  ="""«'  '^^ 

tlion  as  thev  rise      ru\.        .i    !  '       ^  ""'  ^''*^'  "'«fer,  and 

nueks  seenfcii'Llt    ::",:;  :*"  '*'■'  *»'  '■"■     «  .i.o 

h™.ikorcl,ief,isflxedronn.lt     .     if       :.1^^T';""™' 

rarely  fails  to  attract  them      <J     "  *  °  '"'  ''"'  •  ""'l  ""« 

attract  them,     bomefmcs,  by  moonlight,  ,he  sports- 


ill     I 


ill 


510 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


!i 


fM 


man  directs  his  skiff  towards  a  f<oclv  wliose  position  lio  had  previ- 
ously ascertained,  keeping  witliin  the  projecting  sliadow  of  some 
wood,  bank,  or  headland,  and  jiaddles  along  so  silently  and  imper- 
ceptibly as  often  to  approach  within  fifteen  or  twenty  yards  of  a 
flock  of  many  thousands,  among  whom  he  generally  makes  great 
slaughter. 

"Many  other  stratagems  are  practised,  and,  indeed,  every  plan 
that  the  ingenuity  of  the  experienced  sportsman  can  suggest,  to 
approach  within  gunsliot  of  these  birds:  but,  of  all  the  modes  pur- 
sued, none  intimidate  them  so  much  as  shooting  them  by  night ; 
and  they  soon  abandon  the  place  where  they  have  been  thus 
repeatedly  shot  at.  During  the  day,  they  are  dispersed  about,  but, 
towards  evening,  collect  in  large  flocks,  and  come  into  the  months 
of  creeks,  where  they  often  ride  as  at  anchor,  with  their  head 
under  their  wing,  asleep  ;  there  being  always  sentinels  awake,  ready 
to  raise  an  alarm  on  the  least  appearance  of  danger.  Even  when 
feeding  and  diving  in  small  parties,  the  whole  never  go  down  at  one 
time,  but  some  are  still  left  al)ove  on  the  lookout. 

"When  the  winter  sets  in  severely,  and  the  river  is  frozen,  the 
Canvas-backs  retreat  to  its  confluence  with  the  l)ay ;  occasionally 
frequenting  air-holes  in  tlie  ice,  which  are  sometimes  made  for  tlie 
l)urpose,  immediately  above  their  favorite  grass,  to  entice  them 
within  gunshot  of  the  hut  or  bush,  which  is  usuaily  flxed  at  a 
ju'oper  distance,  and  where  the  gunner  lies  concealed,  ready  to  take 
advantage  of  their  distress.  A  JNIr.  Hill,  who  lives  near  .Tames 
River,  at  a  place  culled  Herring  Creek,  informs  me,  that,  one 
severe  winter,  he  aiu^.  another  person  broke  a  hole  in  the  ice,  about 
twenty  by  forty  feet,  immediately  over  a  shoal  of  grass,  and  took 
their  stand  on  tlie  shore  in  a  hut  of  brush,  each  having  three  guns 
well  loaded  with  large  shot.  The  Ducks,  which  Avere  flying  up  and 
down  the  river,  in  great  extremity,  soon  crowded  to  this  jilace,  so 
that  the  whole  open  space  was  not  only  covered  with  them,  but  vast 
numbers  stood  on  the  ice  around  it.  Tliey  had  three  rounds,  firing 
both  at  once,  and  picked  up  eighty-eight  Canvas-backs,  and  miglit 
have  collected  more,  had  they  been  able  to  get  to  the  extremity  of 
the  ice  after  the  wounded  ones.  In  the  severe  winter  of  1779-80, 
the  grass,  on  the  roots  of  which  these  birds  feed,  was  almost  wholly 
destroyed  in  James  liiver.     In  the  month  of  Janmuy,  the  wind 


barrow's  oolden  eye.  5j. 

coiitinuoa  to  blow  from  W  N  W  fo..  t 

such  ]ow  tides  in  the  river  t'li.t  tl.  ^^'T""  '^^'^''  ^^''"^'^  ^''^"^^'l 
where;  and,  a  thaw  cominLtr^f^^;;;,  :-^  ^  ^'^  ^^  ever,- 
the  roots,  and  carried  off  by  the  fresl       'p  ''"'  '"''^^'^  ^'^ 

these  Ducks  were  seen;  bnt  they "  1  ,  "/"f  ^^'"^f''-'^  ^^  o^' 
many  years  after,  they  contin„ed^o  be  s'eT^  "^"'' ^«'- 

present  day,  in  tlie  opinion  of  my  infolTn  T '  '''"  '"  ""^ 

plenty  as  before."  ^  mtoimant,  have  never  been  so 

The  Caiivas-back  brccils  in  the  mo<;f  nn..fi 
the  continent.     I  an.  ignorant    nr,Xt  ^1^'""  '' 
of  incubation,  and  have  but  nnn  *''°  '^'''°" 

describe  from      T  li     s  of  V?  "^  "^7  collection  to 

palo-blne  color  Jiur:tl^e:rt^™''T'^^ 
tl.c  touch,  and  <,ute  thin  a  J  :  tle^'^^^^^^^^ 

^•^^  by  1.78  inch.     The  locality  o     his  o    .      r"*"^  ''l 

on  but  think  that  it  is  ft-on.  the  Huds:'^;  Z.^"^'^"^ 


rr.:'! 


BUCEPIIALA,  ISaii:,,. 


li.ll,  (nmi  (...•illu.r.s  of  lorHu.a.l,  «l,o.it  e.,u-il  u,  tl.,.  /  '     , 

l.ea.i;  hi.h  at  the  base;  lateral  o,„li„  •    Z^ ,  "'""'  "'"'  '^'"''''  *'■""  ""' 

-"IV  .l.e  central  portion  tho„;    ■  |  ,    "    '^    ,'  ""  '"^'  ""^"•'^  "'^'  "-'  '--^ 

.he  bill;  feathers  of  <.hin  andfor         ,     x?  .ul  i'!       ,  "'""!"'  '"""'  '""  ""'''"^'  '"' 
•Wther  than  those  of  the  eheeks-  '    ..  '       :'  """'^■'•••""'y  <'"«"r.l.  a  little 

'-"■ '-  - ' ■  -  -- i-  zr:;:;:;:;;::,'- -  -;■«'  »*'■ 


I:     .. 


BUCEPHALA  ISLANDICA.  -  Z?„/r,/. 
Barrow's  Golden  Eye. 
F,,%ula  ( Cl,n,g„l„)  n.,rro,cu,  Nuttall.     Ma,..,  11.  Ui 
tnl>,jnh  danyula,  Audnbou.     Orn.  Uiog,  V.  (1839)  ;05. 


(1843; 


/4-,  Birds  Am.,  VI. 


1 1 1 


V. 


i 


612 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Desciuption. 

Head  niul  neck  all  rmind  bliiisli-vidlcf,  occasionally  with  grpon  or  purplish  re- 
flection;  n  lari,'o  white  patcli  anterior  to  the  eye,  oceiipyinfj;  the  entire  side  'if  the  lii|| 
and  runninjr  up  in  a  point  on  the  forehead;  lower  ne(k  and  under  |)art,s  generallv 
white;  a  narrow  white  patch  on  the  middle  winy  coverts;  the  fe'reater  coverts  black 
tipped  with  white,  which  is  continuous  with  the  white  secondaries,  but  separated' 
fi'om  that  on  the  middle  coverts;  anterior  scapulars  white,  edjjed  externallv  willi 
l)laeki  the  posteri  ir  ones  black,  with  wliiti-  central  streak;  rest  of  upper  jjarts  black 
ns  are  the  sides  beliind,  and  including  the  tibia;  lony  ttathers  of  the  flank  white' 
tipped  and  edjj;ed  above  with  black. 

Length,  twenty-two  and  lifty  one-hundrcdths  inches;  wing,  nine  and  fifty  ono- 
hundredths;  tarsus,  one  and  fifty-eight  one-hundredths  inches;  commissure,  one  and 
eighty  one-hundredths  inches. 

//„i.  _  Iceland,  and  northern  parts  of  America.  In  winter,  not  rare  on  the  St. 
Lawrence. 

This  species  is  found  in  considorablo  numbers  on  our 
north-eastern  coast,  in  the  winter  months.  It  breeds  in  tlio 
arctic  portions  of  the  continent,  but  lias  all  the  other  habits 
of  the  succeeding  species. 


BUCEPHALA  AHERIC A^ A.  — Btilrd. 
The  Golden  Eye ;  Whistle  Wing. 

Anns  rlanffula,  Wilson.     Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1814)  62. 

Fuliyukt  {Chnyula)  danyulu,  IJonaparte.  Syn.,  (1828)  393.  Nutt.  Man.  II 
441.  ' 

Fuliijula  clnngula,  \w\\xhon.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  318.  /6,,  Birds  Am.  VI 
(1843)302. 

Clanyula  Amcricnna,  Bonaparte.  Comp.  List  (1838).  Kyt.  Mon.  Aiiat  (1838) 
167. 

Dkschii'tion. 

Bill  black;  head  and  upper  part  of  neck  glossy-green;  the  under  surface  opaque 
velvety  purpli>li-black;  an  elliptical  patch  along  the  base  of  upper  mandible  ante- 
rior to  the  eye,  lower  |mrt  of  neck,  under  parts  generally,  and  sides,  middle  and 
greater  wing  coverts,  the  innennost  secondaries  (and  terlials,  excejit  the  innermost 
three  or  four),  white;  the  white  on  the  wing  is  in  a  continuous  patch,  although  there 
is  a  concealed  black  bar  on  the  bases  of  the  greater  coverts;  the  inner  scapulars  are 
white,  margined  externally  with  black ;  jiosteriorly.  however,  they  are  black,  stnaked 
centrally  with  white;  the  inner  scapulars  and  tertials,  and  the  whole  back,  rump, 
and  lesser  wing  coverts,  are  black;  the  primaries  and  tail  black,  with  ii  hoary  gloss; 
the  under  side  of  quills  and  lower  greater  coverts  are  plumbeous-gray;  the  rest  of 
the  under  wing  and  the  axillars  are  sooty-lirown;  the  long  white  feathers  of  the 
thinks  are  edged  superiorly  with  black;   iris  golden  yellow. 

Female  with  the  head  and  neck  above  snutl'-brown,  without  white  patch;  white 
of  wing  less  extended;  the  middle  coverts  only  touched  with  white;  there  is  a  ten- 


r,  not  rare  on  the  St. 


THE  GOLDEX  EYE. 


Tliis  handsome  spec 


resident  in  JV 


'•"*'i  in  the  bays  and 


«\v' England;  and 


:;:':'::,r"r«rHn,„,.a 


"I  '"ilJ  wi„te,.,  i,  „f,^ 


autumn 


,     "  "•*/»  iina  rivers  on  tim  "'^ '«  o«on  seen 

.a»'I  I^onds  in  the  intnn..  J'J^'?  ^°^«t,  and  in  tlie  lakes 


.       .        -  —  ..le  interior,  wlion  +!,«         '  '"  "'^  iakes 

""  'f "  <=™'"*'T  of  Northern  Ihi  „    'f  f""'  l»«i«"Iariy  i« 

™ed,„g  soaso,,,  i„  Lake  IT,  ,b  "",     \''."™  ''•"""'  "■  i"  tI,o 

""•«■•.•   but,  aItl,o„gh  I  soarS''     "'  '"  "'»  M«ga  lowav 

<'»:'"g  to  tl,e  nature  of  tl,o  ,1  !,       ™"'  "'""  ''''''"'•■'Wy  w^ 
;«'"«.  and  tl,o  localities  w„"o      f'*'™'  *■"'■  ^  '"- ««ve  al' 
-;^,|1-  pu,,ose  of  iue„J:«:,'    "  """°"  "^  ""d  selecL 

'"'  Its  reception.    ri,e  pi„e,  1     ,  '  '■?  ''»""»-i=<l  sufficiently 
*,";'";«  «"■  yoa,..,,  tl,e  ifark  „:       ^;"  ^^^  "f-  die ;  and' 
«  body  „  at  In,,  left,  »  si„g,„°'  Jl"'""  "'«  'imbs,  nnti 
tan  from  forty  to  /ifty  r„<„,  ?,i.„7' "  f  '  »'"""'>  "'bile  shaft, 
•  "»  ''.■■«»•    At  last,  in  a  fierce"  tCn       7  '^"''"'  '"''  «"* 
b  <.'aks  oir  close  to  the  gr„,„  ,    ["  Z      *''''"°.' "'"  ^'""■'  »iftcr 
'"  '«"'y  or  ntoro  feet  ■  Ic"    '      ,     !,°"'°*""°'  ""=  I'^febt 
■*""'"•  »  '"'="0  rout.  ;o       i'^;':      :  '"P  "-t  re„,ah,s 

y<-     Jn  this  the  Golden  iClJ,  "'i  "■""  "■<"■«  '" 

«'«s,  U.OS,,  and  down  fr„,„  f^J^  '      '^''"J-g  of  grass, 

""■».  ">  which  she  lays  Iron,       °!''  Z'™"*'-  »  »».m  strnc- 

generally  very  ro, „l  inl.'n     of       '  °'='-    '^'"=^°  -« 

and  average  from  2.-10  bv  1  7-^  •    ,      S'^'^sl'-bluo  color 
'"  "''-'-ions.     The  1o,k[  ll^!  '°  f '«  ''Z  1-78  inch' 
^P«es,  as  it  pa,,,,es  through  t*",:'  * '"  "'"S^  "f  this 
•"  .'I-  "Whistler."     The  hi  d      l"'  S"'"-'"  "  "'»  "-no 
'«™-  aquatic  plants,  and,  when'- 1,,,";:  Z],  t""'  "'"' 

33  °  "^  interior,  is 


■f;;  r  ii^ 


I    ((.'111 


r,t 


ti 


J 


514 


OllNlTIIOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


a  fine-flavored  fowl  for  the  table ;  but,  when  killed  on  tlio 
coast,  its  flesh  is  fishy  and  strong.  It  is  a  bird  of  very 
rapid  flight,  and  is  rather  shy  and  diilicult  of  ai)proach. 


BUCEPHALA  ALBEOLA.  —  Baird. 
The  Buffle-head ;  Dipper ;  Butter-ball. 

Anas  albeola,  Liiuucus.      Syst.  Nat.,  I.   (1706)  109.     Wils.  Am.  Orn.,  VIII. 

(1814)  61. 

Fiilhpila  (  Clanqula)  alhecla,  Bonaparte.    Syn.  (1828)  394.    Nutt.  JIan.,  II.  445. 
Fuliyula  albcoia,  Audubon.     Orn.  Uiog.,  IV.  (1838)  217.     /A.,  Birds  Am.,  VI. 

(1843)  369. 

DEscmmoN. 

3f((/e.  — Bill  blue;  head  and  neck  anteriorly,  dark-colored ;  the  ro^ioii  in  front 
of  the  eye  and  on  the  sides  of  tlie  eolhir  behind,  rieh-j^reen,  tiiis  color  shadiuK  into 
purplish  on  tlie  upper  and  under  surfaces  of  the  head;  a  broad  pateli  on  each  side 
of  tlie  head  fnun  the  posterior  border  of  the  eye,  and  me  'tiiiK  its  fellow  on  the  nape, 
the  lower  neck  all  round,  under  j.arts  generally,  wing  covi'rts  (except  the  lesser) 
and  most  of  the  secondaries,  and  the  scapulars,  white;  the  latter  narrowly  edged 
externally  with  black;  rest  of  upper  parts,  except  as  described,  black;  iiassing 
gradually  on  the  upper  tail  coverts  into  piile-gray;  axillars  and  under  wing  coverts 
BOoty-brown,  more  or  less  tipped  with  white;  iris  hazel. 

Ftiiuik.  —  With  the  entire  head,  neck,  and  upper  parts  almost  black ;  an  elongated 
patch  behind  and  below  the  eye  (not  reaching  it);  the  outer  webs  of  some  second- 
aries, and  the  under  parts,  white;  the  jugulum,  sides,  and  anal  region,  plinube(jui5- 

gray. 

Length,  fifteen  inches;  wing,  six  and  sixty-live  onc-hundredths:  tarsus,  one  and 
twenty-tive  onc-hundredths;  commissure,  one  and  forty-four  one-lumdredths  inch. 

Tins  very  common  and  well-known  bird  is  abvuuiant  on 
our  coast  in  the  spring  and  autunm.  It  associates  with 
most  of  tlie  other  Sea  Ducks  in  our  bays  and  creeks,  but,  in 
the  interior,  is  seen  only  in  pairs,  or  in  small  flocks  of 
three  or  four  individuals.  It  is  an  expert  diver ;  and  one 
finds  diOiculty  in  shooting  it  when  there  arc  two  or  three 
individuals  together,  from  its  hal)it  of  diving  at  the  flush  cf 
the  gun.  I  have  seen  it  at  times,  ])articiilarly  after  a  severe 
storm,  in  small  fresh-water  ponds,  in  the  interior ;  and,  at 
such  times,  it  is  quite  tame  and  unsusi)icious,  or  possildy 
fatigued  from  its  cflbrts  in  the  storm.  It  feeds  on  small 
fi.sh  and  crustaceans,  which  it  is  very  expert  at  catching. 
When  several  birds  arc  together,  one  always  remains  on  tlio 


rt' ils.  Am.  Orn.,  VIII. 


THE   HAHLEQUIN  DUCK.  r,, 

siirfaco  wliilc  tlio  others  n.v>  i.  i       • 

-'■."..ci,  it  ,uto,.,  „  Znl^i;;:  7-"  f  '-<  -d,  if 

»;"lacc;  „„d,  „„  a,cortai  n.f ;,  '""  "'"  °""^^™  "»«  '»  tl,o 
J'vo  and  ,„.i,„  offrapidly  o  l°o  di  .""^  f  "'"  "'»'■'"'  »» 
fcot.  Tl,o  B„(i,c-I,eid  brod  ■,'■"""  °™™™""'""'«' 
"-  e„„ti„„„t.     It  „o,t,  i    t  ,0 1   ir;    T'"  ""'■"""'  "f 

HISTIJIOXICUS,  Lesson. 
""'  ^^■"'^•''  '^  e.„in.,v  occupied  h'l  ,,'"'":':';•  ^-^J^-'""^'  ^"Pi-"y  to  „...  ro,^;,  L' 

^■"'^^ '''"^'''-'^''b' pointed,  of  fourteen  fcli;:  "'"^'""»'  ^-'  '"o-  than  half'thj 

HiSmONICUS    TORQnATUS.-^^„^„,,, 
The  Harlequin  Duck. 

"-;-•'""-'•-"'•  ^— .■■'...,„.  ,,.,„,.„„,.„, 

Birds  Am.,  Vf.  (I843)  3.4,  ^''«-.  HI.  (1835)  612;  V.  (1839)  eiV.    /«., 

,,   ,  ^^  DkS(1!II>TIO.\. 

j/„;e —  Head  and  neck  all  round  ,l.,rir  1 1        • 
P;.rts,  lighter  blue,  becoming  ^l^usH^^^^^lT^ '^"^^  ^^  ^^^^^^  <^'^^  ^^,per 
l'"'a.'<t  passes  inscnsibK- i„to  dark  hl„!.i,  1  ^'"^  *'"'  ''"^''-ts  the  bl„. Vf 

•;Pon-u.  trom  „.e  bin  .0  th    nap    :  dT"  r'"'^'  "  "-"  «^HpJ    ,     ",^ 
•■'1""S  tho  entire  side  of  tbe  base  of    iil      V  '^••""■■•S  black;   a  white  ,n  w! 

-"  -kwards  .0  as  to  bord    ^r  ^^  ^0'"'  '"  ""  ''"'  '"'"  >-->*^      > 
'■■-  "•  "-  nape  .,-  chestnut;  „  roun      po  '„  '  i;:'?'  '"."  -"'--'  '-..'abo  •"  I 
'-eonthesideof  i|,eneck;  ac.,lh.rrl  ,1  r"     '"  ""  ""''^"''■'  ""''''« 
I'atchon  cad.  s,de  the  brea-t,  an.l  siniibirlt        "'  ''^■'''"'';  «  transversely  vlowL-A 
;-.^'  -verts,  a  transverse  pa'tch    n  t      e      ZT'' ''  T  '''''"'  ■^""'  ""  '"-  -i ^ 
;;';■'.">'••.';...  streak  on  the  outer  web    f  e' t  •  1    1?"  "  '""'"^'  ""'  -^-"-'-s  in 
""•"  tail,  white;  sides  of  body  behind  chlT!;         "  '"'"^  ""  •-'"^•''  •''iJe  the  rest  of 
■^.-..hnn  of  purplish  or  viold-  iS\f ''""'" '  ^'^'^""•'-'-  -ith  a  nS,  ' 

reddish-brown.  ""'^'  "'^"^'''  «f  ^^-'"S-  and  axillars,  dark-brown •   ril 


P' 


;l!I 


516 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Ftmnte.  — With  tlin  lirnd  niu'.  liody  ahnvc,  dnrk-hrown ;  tlin  chin  more  phimbcnin ; 
the  lower  part  of  neck,  breunt,  and  under  parts  nuiieraliy,  except  the  ctiitriil  ret;ioii 
(wiiich  ia  white),  duller  and  lijjhter  brown;  a  whitish  patch  in  front  of  thu  eye,  and 
a  rounded  spot  juat  behind  the  ear. 

Length,  seventeen  and  litty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  seven  and  seventy 
one-huiidrcdtiis;  tarsus,  one  and  forty-eight  one-hundrcdths ;  commissure,  one  and 
fifty-four  one-hundrcdths  inches. 

Ihib.  — Northern  seacoast  of  northern  hemisphere. 

The  Harlequin  Duck  is  very  raro  in  Southern  New  Eng- 
land, and  is  seldom  met  with  here  south  of  the  most  north- 
ern portions  on  its  coast.  There  it  is  pretty  al)undantly 
seen  as  a  winter  visitor.  It  greatly  resenildes  the  following 
in  its  general  characteristics.  I  know  nothing  of  its  breed- 
ing habits. 

"  The  nest  is  comjioscd  of  dry  plants  of  various  kinds,  arranged 
in  a  circular  manner  to  the  height  of  three  or  four  inches,  and  liiiud 
with  finer  grasses.  The  eggs  are  five  or  six,  rarely  more,  measuro 
two  inches  and  one-sixteenth  by  one  inch  and  four  and  a  half 
eighths,  and  are  of  a  plain  greenish-yellow  color.  After  the  eggs 
are  laid,  the  female  plucks  the  down  from  the  lower  parts  of  her 
body,  and  places  it  beneath  and  aroiuid  them." 

n.VlJELDA,  Lkacii. 

"  Tlnrehln,  Leaoii  (1810),"  Gray.  (T\-pe  Am»  rjlncinlh,  L.) 
Bill  shdrtcr  than  the  head  and  tarsus,  tain'ring  laterally  to  the  end;  the  nail 
very  bi-oail,  occupying  the  entire  tip;  Intiral  prolile  of  lower  edfje  of  upper  maiidi- 
blestraiglit  to  near  the  end,  then  rising;  suddenly  to  the  prominent  decurved  nail; 
nostrils  large,  in  the  posterior  half  of  the  bill,  their  centre  about  opposite  the  niiddlu 
of  the  commissure;  tertials  hmg,  lanceolate,  and  straight;  tail  pointed,  of  fourteen 
featliers,  the  central  feathers  very  long,  equal  to  the  wings;  bill  with  almost  no  pos- 
terior lateral  upper  angle;  the  feathers  of  the  m  'es  advancing  obliquely  fonvards; 
feathers  of  chin  reaching  beyond  the  middle  of  the  eonunissure,  or  almost  to  the 
anterior  extremity  of  nostrils;  tail  of  fourteen  feathers. 


HAEELDA   GLACIALIS.  —  Xenc/i. 
The  South  Southerly;  Old  Wife;  Long-taiL 

Annit  glncldh,  \rx\ion.    Am.  Orn.,  VIU.  (1814)  93,  96. 
Fuliqula  (/larehla)  (jlacinlU,  Nuttall.    Man.,  H.  (1834)  453. 
Fuijula  glanalis,  Audub.,..    Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  103.    lb.,  Birds  Am.,  VI. 
(1843)  379. 


.    76.,  Birds  Am.,  VI. 


THE   SOUTH   SOUTIIEIiLY,  5^7 

Desckhtidn, 
Male  in  tummer nill  f,i„,.i, 

J--N  v-o-  dark  bi«ckis,..,.„:.:rt;;;u;:v"T'"''i''" '«''  '>-'."-''. -u 

ffatht.rs,  black:  H.e  wlu.Ie  hM.  of  he  he  ■,  7\  T'^'  "■""'''•  "'"'  "'i'l'"'-'  'ail 
t<.e  -!.■.  ...■  .he  body,  pale  Idui  -«  '.:';,  '"  ';"',"""  *"  '"'"'""  ''-  "-V-s  «n<l 
around  and  behind  the  eye  wi.h  7  „;,!'",'"''""'' '•"'^•'' """'-'"'''•'r 
"".i-  ,>art.  K..n..rall,,and  ,ho  u^^JX:^'^'::'  """  f'"  "'''"-"^"'=  "- 
fore  part  of  the  l,a.k,  ui.h  .lu,  .scapulars    .   1  '     ""'  ^''""•'   ''-'""'••'  ""  the 

;-r  .i., ._  ana  .Hiar«  oL:!:.;^^  rn::! -ir':  ^^^ 

broad  pateh  of  Ma,  k  on  the    M  Llf  U  e     "k  l'; "'  I'T-^''""''^  •'^•^^'^""''  "-'  " 
pearl-«rayi  iriB  white.  "  "''^  '^'■'""''  ""^!  "'«  ^'-apulars  are  pale 

^^^y:"^^":^^^^^  '-^  -a.  and  nee. 

I-."«fl..  twenty  and  seve„,v-,lve  one  i  ,  ,       d  T      "'  ""^  ""'^  '»•'''"''• 

one-hundre,l,hs,  tail,  ei.^ht;  „;,sus       .  "  '."?"^'"  ^'"'^''  -«'"  '""I  "i-H'tV 

8U«..,  one  and  six.y-two  one-hu.uh^dl  l^^lj^     ''''''''  one-hundredtl.,  eonnni^- 

iu'S;:  ftultlf"' """"'■  "^"""^"  "'  Massachusetts  Bay 
orn  po..tio„.s  of  tho  co°nZr     '      "'^  "  ^'^  "^^^  '-•^'^■ 

Audubon,  in  describing  the  nest  and  eggs,  says,- 

"  Tho  nest  was  placed  under  an  aldp,-  K„  i 

was  f„™,c.d  of  ,.a,lK.,  coarse  ,-„,.,    'vi  I,  ,    °  """"«■■.  •"»! 

wccK  ,vl,i.l>  ,v..r„  „ca,ly  »„,„".„,  '     ''''""■  '"■'-'•  "f  «"» 

;■..'«-«, e...  T„o, „,o„:„::.u';:" ■  : tt;: .;,;::", '-" 


most  abundant  in  New  Kn..-lana 


It  gathers  in  innn('n,sG 


n^u,  and  f,«,uont,  ,„c  ^,-»  Lu,  i,:,:r':";,,rir 

whom,  koc,,,,,!.'  ,,,,  its  peculiar  crj  or  cl.altc       '  ' 

.".lu     It  «  m  tlu»  season,  that  the  gu.n.cr,  with  his 


\      < 


\l 


I, 


Hi 


618 


OUNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOnV. 


sail-boat  or  float,  pursues  tlioso  liinls  with  groat  activity. 
On  approaiiiiiug  ouo  of  tho,so  largo  flocks,  it  is  customary  to 
8t(M!r  tiio  l)oat  to  tlio  windward  of  it;  for  tlioy,  like  most 
otlior  fowls,  always  rise  to  the  windward.  WhiMi,  thcriifore, 
the  gunner  arrives  within  gunshot,  he  fires  into  the  flock 
while  it  is  in  the  water ;  and  when  it  rises,  and  flies  to  the 
windward,  often  directly  over  his  hmit,  he  pours  into  it 
sometimes  three  or  four  other  charges  before  it  gets  out 
of  shot.  It  is  a  dillieult  bird  to  kill ;  and,  when  wounded,  it 
always  dives  and  clings  to  the  bottom,  where  it  dies.  I  onco 
brought  ilown  seven  birds  out  of  a  Hock  at  one  discharge, 
when  they  dove,  and  I  did  not  secure  one.  its  llesh  is  oily 
and  strong,  and  is  in  no  repute  for  the  table. 

MELANETTA,  Uoie. 

Feathers  extending  nearly  as  far  forward  on  the  sides  of  the  bill  as  the  nostril, 
leaving  tlio  edges  only  free  from  the  base;  bill  very  broad ;  nail  broad  and  almost 
truncate. 

MELANETTA  VELVETINA.  —  5ai/vJ.  . 
The  Velvet  Duck;   White-winged  Coot. 

Anns  fused,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1814)  137. 

Fuluinln  (Oi(lania)  fusca,  Uonapurte.  Syn.  (1828),  300.  Nutt.  Man.,  II. 
(1834)  41!). 

Fiili'/nld  fusca,  Audubon.  Orn.  Uiog  ,  III.  (1835)  354.  lb.,  Birds  Am.,  AT. 
(1843)  832. 

PK.-trnirTioy, 

Mttle.  —  Hill  very  broad,  wider  towanls  ilir  tip  than  at  the  base;  feathers  extend- 
ing far  along  the  side  of  the  bill,  and  on  the  forehead,  for  nearly  half  the  eonuuissure, 
running  iu  an  obtuse  jtoiiit  almul  as  far  forward  as  the  lower  corner  of  the  oulliiic  (if 
feathers  on  the  side,  both  reaching  nearly  to  the  iiosterinr  border  of  tlie  large,  o|u>ii, 
nearly  rounded  nostrils;  cnlnien  hori/untal  a  little  beymid  llie  frontal  feathers,  (lien 
abruptly  bent  downwards,  nearly  perpendiculii''y,  to  the  nuich-depresscd,  nearly 
horizontal  iiortion;  o  sharp  indented  ridge  along  the  base  of  culmen,  ending  in  a 
trihedral  tubercle;  color  black;  a  white  elongated  patch  around  and  a  little  beliiiid 
the  eye,  and  a  large  white  speculum  on  the  wing,  composed  of  white  secondaries 
and  lips  of  greater  coverts;  bill  blaek  at  base  and  lateral  edges;  red  elsewhere;  iris 
brighl-yellow. 

Fnudle.  —  Somewhat  similar,  but  lighter  beneath;  a  largo  whitish  patch  on  tlio 
side  of  the  head  behind  the  eye,  but  none  aroinid  it;  wings  with  white  speculum, 
somewhat  as  in  the  male;  bill  also  similar,  but  less  swollen  and  elevated  at  base. 


THK    VELVET   DUCK. 


619 


I.oiiKlli,  twpn»y.nnp  niiil   llrtv  om..!i,,„,i,.,.,i,i,„  i„  i 

r- "i"..i .»...,  .w»«;j;      ,,;;*;;;■"'"«■  *""  ■« "^ 

eWilj-l»«  , I„„„lr«l.lr.  I,,,.],,,.  l'""'l™Ulii  i    «cmin„..,m   ,„„  .„j 

y«._AI.,„B  l„„l.  ,„,„|,  „r  M„„|,  Amerit.  to  Ui,  ,„„,,. 


Tlu!  V,.|vot  n„ck,  or  "  Wliito-wingcd  Coot 


moii!y  ciilli'd  oti  our 
autiiinii  luid  tlii-ouah   tl 


const,  is  a  very  iiliiiii(liu,t 


*  as  it  is  com- 
spccios,  ill  tlie 


,1  ,  ,  .  ,  '  "  (-'rwiter  part  of  ||,„  ,viiitor  in 
the  ,a,-,  ,ui,l  iiilots  al„i,«  our  wb„l„  slioi-c.  u  i,  on  o niie 
Sea  Duo  .s  ;  ail,,,  „„ ,,,  „„,„,;„„,„    ,,,„„,  -        « 

'""  '"  '""'»';«"  •»  "'■  >v.itor  in  tlio  interior,  i,  i        . 

lorn  »eeii  1,1  arp,  ,|oel<«  in  any  otlier  loealitie-  tliaii  e 
Klllt  waters   u    tlie  seaeoast.     Tiioro  it  i.  talceii   in  ,^1,    , 

dance  froii.  the  first  week  in  (,e, „.  „„,,  „,„  mi ,,,;" 

Deceii,  ler.     Tlie  sportsiuen,  witli   decoy,  „ia,ie   ol'  w„„U 
liaiiiled   to  resonilile  tliesc  lewl.,,  aiielior  tlieir  small  1,1' 
.11  localities  where  the  Coots  are  known  to  „as8-  a,     r 
early  dawn  until  late  in  the  forenoon,  an  I  ,V   „ ',     ^  tZ 
..  ternoon    until   night,   kee,,   ,i,,   a   constant   Ma       » 
II.C  sw. Idy  iiiovin,,  docks.     I  liave  known  two  ,.ui iii    s  to 
ocu,^,  m  one  day's  sliootiii.,  tliirty  pairs  of  thes     b  rd 
and  tins  large  nuniher  is  often  exceedcl  ' 

The  "Coots"  are  hunted  more  for  the  e.xeitomeiit  of  tho 
thing  liaii  lor  the  sake  of  their  flesh  ;  f„,,  m-ing  as  hey  do 
uely  on  hsli  and  a  few  iiio|,„sks,  their  flo^li  i  Zot 
.  i.d  o  ly,  and  lar  from  pleasant.  This  species  breeds  u 
Ubrador  and  other  northern  localities.  "  The  ue  I,  a  e 
placed  w„ hill   a  ,,„.  fc,.  „f   ,„„  „„,,,„,.^         -  »  0 

a  ."do  or  two  distant  from  the  sea,  under  the  low  b„  1 1  ,' 

ol  the  buslies  of  the  twigs  of  wliieli,  with   mosses  aij 

arious  piunt,  matted  togethe,-,  thoy  arc  Ibri.ied.     T  i  y 

Uhei'f  ;;"1"",.""^',  "'!•  ""™'  '•"""™  '"-k,  with  so.,,' 
»  ...  are  iisually  si..  i„  i,,,,,,,,.,.,  o,  i„,,,^,_,  .,  ,^       -'• 

with  g':::' '"' '"'  "'■ "  """■™» '-'~  »'»'■  ^^^s^i 


• '  \ 


".I 


520  ORNITHOLOGY  AND  OOLOGY. 


PELIONETTA,  Kaup. 

Feathers  not  extending  on  sides  of  the  bill ;  nail  pointed  anteriorly;  colors  black 
With  a  triangular  white  patch  on  the  top  of  head  and  another  on  nape :  bill  red' 
■witli  a  rounded  black  lateral  spot  at  base.  ' 

PELIONETTA   PEESPICILLATA.  —  ^nap. 
The  Surf  Duck;    Sea  Coot;   Butter-bill  Coot. 
Anas  perspicllfdffi,  AVilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1814)  49, 

FuUijula  (Oklemia)  perspicillala,  Uonaparte.    Syn.  (1828),  389.    Nutt.  Man. 
II.  41G.  '' 

FiiUgvla  perqnciUata,  A.nii\x\)on.    Cm.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  IGl.    lb    Birds  Am 
VL  (1843)  337.  '       "''■^"'•' 

Description. 
J/n?e.  —  Tail  of  foi  n  feathers;  bill  but  little  longer  than  the  head,  the  feathers 
extending  forward  lu-  ay  from  the  base  to  the  tip,  and  opposite  the  posterior  border 
of  the  nostril;  the  bill  abruptly  decurved  or  gibbous  anterior  to  the  end  of  the 
feathers;  nostrils  open,  nearly  semicircular  or  stirrup-sliaped,  the  straight  portion  of 
the  outline  antero-inferior;  sides  of  bill  swollen  at  the  base  so  as  to  be  further  apart 
above  than  below;  color,  entirely  black  throughout,  with  a  greenish  lustre  above 
duller  beneath;  a  triangular  white  patch  on  the  top  of  head,  the  base  extending 
between  the  posterior  outline  of  the  eye  and  reaching  forward  tc  a  point  a  little 
beyond  the  posterior  line  of  the  bill,  the  outlines  rounded  lateraliv  and  antorioHv 
the  patch  is  separated  from  the  eye  by  a  narrow  superciliary  black  space:  there  \»l 
second  triangular  white  patch  beginning  on  the  lutpe  ns  a  straight  line  the  width  of 
the  other  patch,  and  running  backwards  for  more  than  two  inches;  these  triaii-ular 
spaces  are  thus  base  to  base;  iris  yellowish-white.  " 

Female.  — h\\\  as  long  as  that  of  the  male,  but  not  swollen  at  the  base,  where  the 
sides  approach  each  other  above;  the  feathers  of  forehead  do  not  extend  onc-thinl 
the  distance  trom  base  to  tip  of  bill;  the  mid<lle  of  nostril  not  cpiit.;  as  far  as  the 
middle  of  the  bill;  n.istrils  linear,  acutely  pointed  anteriorly;  color  brown;  lighter 
on  the  neck;  sides  and  beneatii  the  under  surface  of  the  bodv  whitish;  an" obscure 
whitish  patch  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  and  another  on  the  si'de  of  die  head  beliind 
the  eyes. 

Length  of  male,  nineteen  inches;  wing,  nine  and  forty  one-hundredtlis;  tarsus, 
one  and  sixty-three  one-liundredths;  commissure,  two  and  thirty-seven  one-huii- 
drcdtlis  inches. 

Ifab.  —  On  and  near  seacoast  of  North  America,  quite  far  south  in  winter;  acci- 
dental in  Europe. 

The  Surf  Duck,  or  "  Butter-bill  Coot,"  as  it  is  usually 
called  oil  the  coast,  is  equally  ahuiulaut  with  the  preceding. 
Like  all  the  Sea  Ducks,  this  bird  is  au  expert  diver.  I  have 
followed  a  flock  of  Sea  Coots  for  hours  iu  a  small  yacht, 
with  a  good  breeze,  and  have  beeu  unable  to  «>et  within 


THE   SCOTER. 


521 


uthin  winter;  acci 


gunshot  of  ,i,e„,  ,„,,  „„, 

As  soon  as  I  arrivod  within  tJH   i,       ^  ""« '='''">  »'  that. 

ao  whole  fiock  sank  b  noal^  l!™  ?""""""' """'""=<'• 
atones;  and,  swimmin.  u  "d  '  \  ".'*™  "'"=  ^^  '""V 
of  a  mile,  appeared  a  L  ule!  i  ^  ?'"°^'  "  I"-'" 
expeeted  to  see  then,  •  soleti  "  '"""'''^  "'"='«  I  l™st 

l-oat;  at  others,  in  a'd  °  S™!  """""""ol/  astern  of  n,y 
wl.ieh  I  supposed  th^/ud  taken   "'"  "  ""'""'^  '"  "'^  ^^^^ 

™«;'t;'  ;het,?7s:  r ''""  "^ ""'"" '-  ^  '"^^y 

,T  °^  ^^-  Lawrence,  says,—  ""^ 

croularJy  arranged   over   the   ut  """"'^''  '^''  ^'^'^'^'  ^^-^'^ 

cavity,  the  borders  of  which  we',  -"i  ^' ""I  "'"^  ''  ^velj-rounded 
-  the  ,sa„.  .ann^r  as  t  71^"^^^^''  ^"«  ^'^^  o^  the  bird, 
eggs,  wJu-ch  were  two  inches  an  tin  ^  T' '  ""''  '"  '^  ^*V  ^ve 
by  one  inch  and  five-ei.l  t  s  in  tJ."  "  "  ''''  ""^''^''^  '"  ^-^th, 
--  equally  rounded  at  ^  f^^^^  ^--•^'•-     ^l.y  .^re 

«-ooth,  and  of  a  uniform  pale  ye  t;.^'"  """^''  *'"  ^^'^'"  P-^^tly 

P'Ut  yellowish  or  cream  color." 

OIDOIIA,  Flemi.no. 

Jiill  Jiuioh  swollen  at  base  fl.n  t,..,        ,"         '    '''"'  '''""'«  ">'.'/'•",  L-) 

~""^ "'"' "-  "■^•" « »i.'»..  «:.rp«::;:;:;;;;:.« '""'"""  •*  •" « «'° 

The  Scoter 
"■""'em  at  tl,e  ba.so  „f  bill  „  ),  '  1  ""'"'•''■^  '"'"-"V  fr„m  (he  1,,,,,,,,  " 


m 


522 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND   OOLOGY. 


point;  bill  of  finale  ni.t  very  dissimilar,  luckins  the  swelling  at  the  base;  color 
entirely  bliick  all  over,  without  any  white;  bill  black  along  the  edges  and  tip;  the 
swollen  basal  portion  red  to  beyond  the  nostrils. 

Femnle.  — Brown:  lighter  on  sides  of  head,  throat,  and  under  surface  of  body, 
where  the  feathers  have  each  an  obscure  dusky  spot. 

Length,  twenty-three  and  eighty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  nine  and  twenty 
one-hundredths;  tarsus,  one  and  seventy-eight  one-hundredths;  commissure,  two 
and  fourteen  one-hundredths  inches. 

This  species  is  also  known  on  the  coast  by  the  name  of 
Coot.  It  is  far  less  abundant  than  the  other,  but  has  all 
the  habits  of  that  bird.  It  also  associates  with  it,  and  is  a 
very  expert  diver  ;  sinking  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water, 
at  the  flash  of  a  gun,  before  the  shot  reaches  it.  I  know 
nothing  of  its  breeding  habits,  and  have  no  eggs  by  me  for 
description. 

SOMATEmA,  Lkacii. 

Somaieria,  Leach,  in  Fleming's  Philos.  Zool.  (1822).  (Typo  Anas  molUssinm,  L.) 
Bill  much  compressed,  tapering  to  the  tip;  the  nail  enormously  large,  and  forniiiig 
the  terminal  portion  of  the  bill,  and  niuch  decurved;  the  feathers  of  foreiuad 
advancing  forward  in  an  acute  long  point,  sei)arating  on  each  side  a  frontal  exten- 
sion or  linear  process,  or  the  feathers  of  the  cheek  may  be  said  to  extend  a 
considerable  distance  along  the  commissural  edge  of  the  bill;  nostrils  situated 
anterior  to  the  middle  of  the  commissure;  tail  rather  pointed,  but  short,  of  fourteen 
feathers. 

^     SOMATEEIA    MOLLISSIMA.  —  Zeac A. 

The  Eider  Duck. 

Anas  moUhsimn,  V,^\hon.    Am.  Orn.,  VIIL  (1814)  122. 

Fuliyula  (Sonmtcrla)  vwltissima,  Bonaparte.    Syn.  (1828),  388.    Nutt.  Man.,  II. 

(1834)  407. 

Fullaula  moUhs!nia,  Audubon.    Orn.  Biog.,  III.  (1835)  344;  V.  Gil.    Jb.,  Buds 

Am.,  VI.  (1843)  349. 

DK.sriiU'TION. 

Tail  of  fourteen  feathers;  prevailing  color  white;  the  under  surface  and  sides  of 
body,  hinder  part  of  back,  rump,  and  tail,  black;  wings  white  on  both  surfaces, 
except  the  ipiills,  whi.h  are  black;  narrow  margin  inferiorly  of  the  frontal  iirocess 
of  bill  and  the  forehead  violet-lilack,  this  color  bifurcating  opposite  the  mi.ldle  oftiie 
eve,  and  continued  broadly  on  each  side  the  head  to  the  najie,  the  color  extend- 
ing'a  little  below  the  eye;  the  white  below  and  bchiiul  the  black  glossed  with  trans- 
parent .■nierald-green;  the  intersi.ace  white;  iris  brown. 

Length,  tw.'utv-six  inches;  wing,  ei.'vcn  and  twenty-four  one-hundredths;  tar- 
sus, ^1^  and  eighty-two  one-hundredths;  commissure,  two  and  lifty-three  onc-liuii- 
dredths  inches. 


THE  KING   EIDER. 


528 


nder  surface  of  body, 


Tin's  is  another  of  our  S^n  n     i 
"^  the  bays  and  inlets  of  ou"^^^^^^^^^^^^^         j^  -'T  abundant 
ter  months,  and  until  And     Hi        °  "^'  ^""  ^"^  ^^^'^- 

TJie  history  of  its  "le  spring, 

habits  and  distri- 
l^ution  is  so  well 
known,  that  any  ac- 
count here  is  hard- 
ly needed. 

It  breeds  in  abun- 
dance in  Labrador 
and  otlier  northern 

portions  of  tJ)e  con-  J^jwMLaJiirrrlIJ^a!T 

tinent,  and  a  few  nasQ  fi.n         ^^^^*^^^^^ 

to  have  fo„„o..|j.  roared  tv,;,'"'"'"'";  "'"""'S''  ''  «  «'''W 

a™  in  Ma.a„i;,.„,:    "c^T'L^'lo  :!  If't^  "'  ^^'^ 
The  nest  is  placed  o.,  thn  \  ,  ^  ^^^"^^- 

v-^ "-'.  or'.,,,:;' :,  r;::: ::-'"  '"•=  :■■*"  °f 

struclod,  m-rt,  of  a  tl,i,i  hra-  nP  ^'■'"•''-     ^'  '"  ■=»"- 

wind,  tho  female  do,  Ji"  ZL,  '"'"''f  "'"'  ""°>'^'  «» 
P'."»  from  her  breas  T  ,i"  t  f?'  "'^  """■"'  "•'"«"  «l'o 
"•arm  reeoptaelo,  the  J  r  ,' 1  f  ""'?"'"' '  "'"'  '"  "■- 
l«.-,  arc  deposited.  The  e  ^  of  '  r?'"  "  '""  "'  ■"»"- 
ai.a  their  for,,,  i,  va  Id  fro  ■*^'  P"'"-?™"  oolo,-, 

ovoidal.     Th,.ir  L  ™   o,,    v"  ° r"'"  '^  "  ^'-1"^  Pointed 
to  2.82  by  l.»8  i„  h  ^  "■'""  ^•--  ''>■  -'-10  incl,es 


4 


SOMATERIA  SPECTABILIS.  -  Zeac/. 
The  King  Eider. 

(1834)  414.  ^  ^  '''"'"''  I^-aPa'-te.    Sy„.  (1S2.),  389.    Nutt.  Man    If 

=>««;-  -«.  A„a.o„.  0..  Bio.,  „:.  ,,3.  .3.  ...  Bi.s  a™  ■  W 


II 


1 


524 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Desckiption. 

Body  and  wings  black;  the  portion  anterior  to  the  shoulder  joint,  intersc;  pular 
region  in  part,  most  of  nock  and  tliroat,  white;  the  jugulum  with  a  creamy  tinge;  a 
narrow  border  to  the  frontal  processes  of  the  bill  and  their  interspace;  small  spiice 
round  the  eye  and  a  V-shaped  mark  on  tlie  chin  black;  top  of  head  and  nape 
bluish-ash,  slightly  spotted  with  black ;  middle  wing  coverts,  tips  of  secondaries, 
axillars,  and  most  of  under  surface  of  wing,  with  a  patch  on  each  side  of  the  rump, 
white ;  sides  of  head  glossed  with  transparent  emerald-green ;  the  scapulars  have 
the  black  tinged  with  slate. 

Length,  twenty-one  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches ;  wing,  ten  and  seventy  one- 
hundredths;  tarsus,  one  and  eighty-six  one-hundredths;  commissure,  two  and 
fifty-three  one-hundredths  inches. 

The  King  Eider  is  a  rare  species  on  our  coast  in  the 
winter  months.  It  is  a  more  northern  species  than  the  pre- 
ceding, and  seldom  reaches  as  far  south  as  the  coast  of 
Massachusetts.  It  is  of  similar  liabits  with  the  other  Sea 
Ducks,  and  breeds  in  the  most  northern  sections  of  the 
country.  The  eggs  found  by  Captain  James  Clark  Ross, 
R.N.,  measure  2f  inches  by  1|,  have  a  smooth  shell,  and  aro 
of  a  uniform  dull-greenish  color. 


Sub-Family  EuisMATURiNiE. 

The  most  prominent  character  of  the  Erismntwinx  is  found  in  the  very  rigid  tail 
feathers  with  the  much  abbreviated  coverts,  which  leiwe  the  greater  portion  of  the 
tail  exposed.  There  are  peculiarities  in  the  nail  at  the  end  of  the  bill  in  I'rimutura 
not  fo  ,nd  in  the  other  sub-families. 


ERISMATURA,  Bonaparte. 

Erismatura,  Bonaparte,  Saggio,  etc.  (1832). 

Bill  broad,  rather  high  at  the  base,  much  depressed,  and  bent  upwards;  tippor 
lateral  angle  of  bill  running  back  on  the,  foreheiid  some  distance,  furl licr  than  the 
lower  edge  of  the  bill;  nostrils  reaching  to  the  middle  of  the  hill,  rather  small;  por- 
tion of  nail  seen  from  above  very  narrow  and  linear;  bent  abruptly  downwards  and 
backwards  at  the  tip,  so  as  to  be  invisible  from  the  upjier  surface;  tarsi  very  short, 
scarcely  more  than  one-third  the  long  feet;  tail  very  slitf,  of  eighteen  feathers; 
the  coverts  above  and  below  very  much  abbreviated,  so  as  to  expose  the  gri'aliT 
part  of  the  tail;  the  feathers  narrow,  linear;  the  shafts  very  large,  and  channulied 
on  the  under  surface  near  the  base;  wings  very  short,  and  incurved  at  the  end. 


THE  RUDDY  DUCK. 


525 


EEISMATDKA    EUBIDA.  -  5<>„„^ar/e. 

The  Buddy  Duck;  Dipper  Duck. 
Am,  rublda,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VIII.  (1814)  128  lio 
Anas  ^FuU,„Un)  ruLuJa,  «„naparto.    Ob  .  v}  i  ns^'oes 
tuhpuln  ( y,«««,.„)  ,.„j;,fo,  Nuttall.    Man      I     1S4  '4,! 
Fuhnula  vMdn,  Swainson.    F.  Dor  Am     'r    ',  ,!f?-t^' . 
(1838)  326.     lb.,  fiinb  Am.,  VI.  (1843)  324  '        ^       ^  '"'•     ^"'''  ^™-  ^^'S;  IV. 
Lrimatura  rubida,  Bonaparte.    List  (1838). 

!""-t.s  with  upper  portio.;  of  sides/chr.  .'-";  ."    L   '  ?""' ''"''  '"'^  ''"'"•''  "PP- 
'.^h-white,  with  an  occasional  b  owni        i,  "j.  ""f  P'^-'f^  S'-''"'>-"".v  lustrous  f^ray- 

without  speculum,  finely  and  almos  tanZi'n,,  "i^,"''""'"*''  ^'''^'  '"•°^™. 
black ;  iris  hazel.  ^  "  mapproc.ably  gprmkled  with  gray ;  tail  neari; 

.pi:^a:^h';;;:i:;;t:srt:r^^^^ 

across  the  lowef  part  ol  nelk  e  b'2n  0^;;":  1"  ';""'  '"^"'  ^^="'  ^'----^''-'-wn 
of  the  eye,  and  there  is  an  obs  u^e  d'k  vs  r  ne  '^1  T^  '"""  '"^'""  *''«  >«-' 
the  eonmiissure.  ^  ""P^  P"™"^'  ^^'"1  its  lower  outline,  from 

The  continuity  of  the  wliifp  nf  ♦!,„       1 

tip,  which  ,h.,  gi,,,  ,i,«  ,0  ihc  .„p"l;  r,;,T''?    •  '""""'•  °' ""  ■"■'■•• 

/M.-who,..,»o„hA,„eH::i;:;::;;!,-XTS^^^^^^^^ 

.0  0,  ^^holo    t  feeds  on  small  Hsh  and  mollusks,  which  it 
obtauis  1»\^  divins?      Tt  ;«  a/%  ^,.      i.       i.  '  "^'"'""  it- 

a,.d  al  a  test  to  tl,o  difficulty  with  which  it  is  shot    "     ' 
Of  .ts  broedu,.  habits,  nest,  and  eggs,  I  am  ignorant.  • 


Sni-Family  Meroim._7B„  SheUmhs. 
»rlv  law  and  tran.ver.o  b«.L I,",™,'!,         T       =»n,P'«odi  Ih.  .-.le,  „,o,|. 

...I  f...h™  ,i,h,..„  in  Norzste!;::'  •■"■""  ™ ""  •'■"»  »■'  -•-'"^^ 


1    I 


IT 

^  ^1 

1  { 

1 

L 

1 

till' 


s   • 


^JILi 


t 


626 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


The  .Verr/inm,  or  Fishing  Ducks,  are  represented  in  the  United  States  by  tliroe 
well-established  species,  placed  by  modern  systeniatists  in  as  many  fieiiera.  Two 
of  these,  however,  are  so  nearly  alike  that  I  prefer  to  consider  them  as  the  same:  the 
third  is  sufHcicntly  distinct. 


MERGUS,  LiNN.KUs. 

Merr/ns,  Ltnx.f.i's,  Syst.  Nat.  (173r)).    (Type  ^f.  castor,  L.) 

IJill  longer  than  the  head,  mostly  red;  serrations  conical,  acute,  recurved;  crest 

occipital,  pointed,  or  depressed;  tarsus  about  two-thirus  the  middle  toe;  tail  about 

half  the  length  of  wings. 


MEEGUS    SEEEATOR.— Z;«n(B!/s. 

The  Eed-breasted  Merganser. 

Mergus  serraloi;  Linna'us.  Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (ITUO)  208.  Wil.i.  Am.  Orn.,  VIII. 
(1814)81.  Nutt.  Man.,  H.  (1834)403.  And.  Orn.  Biog.,  V.  (183))  U2.  IL,limU 
Am.,  VI.  (1843)  31)5 

Dkschii'TIon. 

Feathers  of  the  forehead  extending  on  the  bill  in  a  short  obtuiic  angle,  and  full- 
ing far  short  of  the  end  of  tho,se  on  the  sides;  the  outline  of  the  bitter  sloping  nipiillv 
forwards,  and  reaching  half-way  from  the  posterior  end  (if  the  lawer  edge  of  bill  to 
the  nostrils,  and  far  beyond  those  on  the  side  of  hnver  jaw;  nostrils  narrow,  pos- 
terior; their  posterior  outline  opposite  the  end  of  basal  third  of  commissure. 

Male.  —  Head  with  conspicuous  pointed  occipital  crest;  head  and  upper  part  of 
neck,  all  around,  dark-green;  under  jiarts  re(blish-white;  Juguluni  reildisli-jirown. 
streaked  with  black;  sides  conspicudu-ly  barred  transversely  with  line  lines (ifbhuk; 
feathers  anterior  to  wing  white,  nuirgined  with  black;  white  of  wing  crossed  liv  two 
bars  of  black ;  iris  red. 

Female.  —  Head  with  compressed  occipital  crest;  chestnut-brown;  body  above 
ash;  beneath  reddish-white;  the  black  at  base  of  secondaries  exposed;  outer  tertials 
white,  edged  witli  black. 

Length,  twenty-three  and  twenty-five  ono-hundredths  inches;  wing,  eight  and 
sixty  one-htindredths;  tarsus,  one  and  eighty  one-hundredths;  connnissure,  two 
anil  seventy-six  one-hundredths  inches. 

Ilab.  —  Whole  of  North  America  and  Europe. 

This  species  is  quite  abimdant  on  oiir  coast  iu  the  autiimi; 
and  winter  moiitlis.  It  docs  not  appear  to  be  gregarious  to 
a  great  extent ;  for  seldom  more  than  tlirec  or  four  individu- 
als are  observed  together.  It  is  an  expert  diver,  swimming 
to  a  great  distance  beneath  the  water  at  the  least  alarm, 
and,  when  appearing  at  the  surface,  usually  only  thrusting 
its  head  out  to  reconnoitre.  I  have  seen  it  swimming,  with 
only  the  bill  and  \ij.per  part  of  its  head  above  v. iter,  in  the 


THE  OOOSJNDBB. 


627 


St  in  tin;  aiittiinr. 


wake  of  a  boat  from  wliicl,  it  i,„i  i 

actually  followed  ihv  .,        \       ,    li"""  wounilocl :  and  it 

discovered.    I  have'  ot.r     ■'■''"  '"■^""'"=«  "««"■»  ''  ™ 

of  foiiow'gwi ;:;  rVr""; "'-"  "'"''^'  "■-  "■"" 

concealment  ''  """  '=°"'='"''«  "«'  "  «  done  for 

tl.o  ™ost  northern  «ect    n     o    tl     „  's^  ■»","'^%-'" 

;;;--^.;;-ti,atiti.ie.of:i.t:;^^^^^^^^^^^ 

i'l  the  interior.     "  The  nl.t  IT     i  ''^'  sometimes 

J  111^  iicsn  IS  very  larsro  •   if  t;«->^„ 
seven  or  eiglit  inclies  m.  tl,n  f^    \     T'  ^'^  *'"^os  ^ised 
weeds  which   the  t  ,     a    12cr  i,:    ^^  "^  »»  "-'cad 
I'-oi-erly  speakins,  the  rei    ne!     I  "'='t'l*o.hood. 

tl.an  that  of  the  D  .^k^   .  ck  a  d       "T"  "  ""'  '"'S^'' 
externally  of  /ihions  roo  .  J  ,         ,       """'  """"y  f"'™"'! 

eggs.     The.,ea     «;.„,,/     ;i"'"  r^''/  •■"'""'  "leven 
ovoidal.     They  are  o    7,         ^?       '"  ""'I"''  »»"'etimcs 
daaer  than  tCtfli^  £,S  :"tc:t:  "^^^^^^ 
sions  from  2.08  by  1.82  i,.ch  to  3.48  by  1.75  ."eh.  "  ''"™"- 

MEHGOS   AMESICiHm._c„„;.. 
The  Go<,.md.r;  Sh.Ur.t.,  Pish  D„|, 

„  De.schiption. 

l'eatlior.s  of  the  forehead  extendin-  „„  m,    ,  •„  ■ 
'ance  between  tho.se  on  the  sid....         ^h^  ,    t  •  l'     "T  "T  ""^'•'  ''"^  '""^  '"e  dis- 
y-.ical,  and  reaehin,.  onlva  li.tle  .    """"''  "   !""-  ""  ">"  --''e^  nearlv 

•^T  as  those  on  the  .si.le  of  lower  ia  v      1   ,  ,    '  ""'''*^  "^^"'''"-  "^"'  <'*'>'ill-  I'ut  a's 

b.j;;:;''^;;r::r^^  S;-'»  --.  ,ree„,  ..opart  Of  hao. 

ndesscareely  barred  transversely;  iris  Lmine  '■"■'''        ''  "'"^  ^"'"'  ^^  '''•''^■k  = 


L 


528 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


t  't  th 


m 


i« 


i 


li  I 


Female.  — Uvml  with  a  compressed  oecipitnl  crest;   heml  and  neck  cJiestnnt 
above  ashy;  t)eiu>ath  sahnoii-colored;  wliite  of  greater  covorts  with  a  tcrmiiinl  hnr 
of  ashy  (soiiiftimes  wanting);  tiie  blacli  of  base  of  secondaries  entirely  concealed • 
outer  tertials  ash.  '  ' 

Head  witlioiit  conspicuous  crest,  though  one  is  visible  in  life.  Head  and  most  of 
neck  all  round  very  dark  green ;  rest  of  neck  and  the  body  genernll)',  except  the 
upper  part,  creamy-white,  deepein'iig  to  salnion-rcd  beneath.  Lower  part  of  back 
rump,  and  tail  feathers,  plumbeous;  forepart  of  back,  interscapular  region,  and  inner 
scapulars,  black. 

Length,  twenty-six  and  fifty  one-hundredths  inches;  wing,  eleven;  tarsus  one 
and  eighty-four  one-hundredths ;  commissure,  two  and  ninety  one-hundredths  inches. 

Although  tliis  species  is  found  on  our  coast  tlirough  tlie 
autumn  and  winter  months,  wlicro  it  litis  all  the  habits  of 
the  Other  Sea  Ducks,  it  breeds  in  the  neighborhood  of  fresh- 
water lakes  and  streams  far  in  the  interior.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  abundant  summer  residents  in  the  lake  region 
of  Northern  Maine,  and  aljout  the  Umbagog  Lakes  and  Rich- 
ardson Lakes  it  is  the  most  common  Duck. 

There,  in  the  top  of  some  tall  stump,  or  in  a  high  forked 
branch  of  a  dead  pine,  it  builds  its  nest.  In  many  localities 
on  the  borders  of  these  lakes,  the  spring  inundations  or 
some  other  causes  have  destroyed  whole  acres  of  gigantic 
liemlocks,  which,  standing  for  years,  become,  in  con.sequence 
of  tlie  bark  falling  off,  perfectly  smooth  and  difficult  of 
ascent.  When  such  trees  are  broken  at  the  heiglit  of  tliirty 
or  forty  feet  from  the  ground,  leaving  a  jagged  top,  no  bcttr>r 
nesting-place  can  be  found ;  because  it  not  only  secures  tlio 
bird  and  eggs  from  the  attacks  of  predaceous  animals,  but 
it  guarantees  to  the  nest  a  perfect  security  from  any  inunda- 
tions that  may  arise.  This  nest  is  built  of  leaves,  moss,  and 
pieces  of  grass,  which  are  arranged  in  a  deep  layer,  on  wliich 
a  thin  covering  of  down  from  tlie  breast  of  the  bird  is  placed. 
This  is  hollowed  to  the  depth  of  two  or  three  inches,  and  it 
is  ready  for  tlie  eggs.  These  are  from  seven  to  twelve  in 
number.  Their  form  is  almost  always  exactly  oval.  Their 
color  is  a  pale  creamy-white ;  sometimes  a  little  darker, 
almost  a  very  pale  buff.  They  vary  in  dimensions  from 
2.80  by  1.80  inch  (Milltown,  Me.)  to  2.50  by  1.70  inch. 


THE   HOODKD   MERGANSER. 


629 


LOPIIODYTES,  RErcnAHT. 


Itill  shorter  tlm.i  tlio   licnd    bim.l).   <,        .■ 
ob.K„.elv  on  ,„e  od,o  of  „i„ ;    L'  ,   ,; ,  ™;-  --P-sed,  ,ow,  short,  inserted 
more  t  a„  half  the  win«s,  tnrsi  short  h        he  St    he"?  "?""'  ""■•  "-'^«=  ""' 
ver  ,.al,  o.rc.dar,  and  erect  crest.  '"  ''""^  ^^'"'  <»  "'"ch  compressed 

"ut  a  si„„e  species  of  this  genus  is  known  to  naturansts. 

LOPHODmS  CVCVLLATVS.- Hekkart. 
The  Hooded  Merganser. 

70.    Nutt.  Ma„.,n.'465     l^d    ,^-^*'\^."'-r- (1766)207.    Wils.  Am.  Orn    VFIf 
Am.,  Vr.  (18.i3)  m.  "'•  ""'"■  '*"«•'  "J-  (1835)  246,  V.  ,il    2' Jr'' 

LophoJ,t..  cucuUatus,  Reichart.    Syst.  Av.  ( 1852). 

yr  .  r>ESCI<IlTION. 

-est  ^me;  sides  chestnut-brown,  ba      ,       h',     'f '"  ::"^"-  I""-^«  «"<1  centre  of 
crossed  by  two  blaclc  crescents-  iLJ  ^'  '''""-'  ""'erior  to  the  winJ 

and^median  black  bar,  biac   tt^r  t^^T  '7]^'''  ^'^'""'-"  -'         ^S 

:^':^ir:ir;;- — - -Sur^TrrL-^-^ 

-;^;Stni:r  ::-;-^^^^^^^^  win.  ^e.^  a„d  ninet.  one- 

e.ght  o„...hu>uIred.hs  inches.  '  "'"'^Iredthsi  comn.issure,  one  and  nine^' 

//„«._  Whole  of  North  America. 

Tliis  beautiful  bird  i<;  lo«o 

otl.er  bodies  of  fc,,,  >»  ,!  i,  ',  '''''I:  ''^  "'<=  '"''-^  a-d 
liisl.  dead  trees,  or  on  tl  „  ton,  n  f  '"  ""*'  '"  ''"'««  "' 
;;.■"".  .:;o  ,ro„„d,  e.ae,:    ,,?.,:«  et;:'^;,'-  '"^'^  ^«°' 

-  T;;r:r::,e::i;r  ;■■'  t-.  --%:;: 


I  ;! 


I'  ', 


I  ' 


'   s 
! 


f    4 


530 


ORNITIIOLO(JY    AND   OOLOOY. 


m 

Hi 

i 

Ml 

1 41    i 


I- 
I*. 


5  is 


''   'I 


feet  of  the  bird.  Tli(>v  nrn  very  thick-sliollod,  and,  wlicu 
struck  togothcr,  soi'ud  MuuoHt  like  balls  of  ivory.  Tiiey  aro 
mnro  spboriciil  '\n  lonn  f'lai  (ho  OfXf^s  of  any  other  d\ick  that 
I  have  seen,  and  aro  but  little  more  pointed  at  one  end  lliau 
at  the  otiier.  Their  dimensions  vary  Ironi  2.30  by  1.7') 
inches  (the  longest  and  narrowest  specimen  in  a  large  num- 
ber in  my  collection)  to  2.10  by  l.SO  inches  (the  shortest 
and  broadest  s))ecimen  in  the  .same)  :  tlio  usual  size  is,  on 
the  average,  about  2.13  'oy  1.70  inches.  I  am  not  aware 
that  any  nest  of  this  bird  has  been  found  south  of  Lake 
Unil)a!iog. 

Whu'u  the  nest  of  this  species  is  approached,  the  fenmlo 
remains  quiet,  and  flies  ofT  only  when  alarmed  by  blows  on 
the  trunk  of  the  tree  on  which  her  nest  is  built.  She  tlion 
flies  silently,  and  alights  in  the  lake,  near  which  the  nest  is 
usually  built,  and  watches  the  intrudei'  from  a  safe  distance, 
without  making  any  outcries  or  disturbance.  If  tiio  tree  is 
surrounded  by  unilergrowth  so  thick  that  she  cannot  see  tlie 
intruder  from  the  water,  she  flies  silently  over  and  around 
him,  always  at  a  safe  distance.  The  male  never  shows  him- 
self on  such  occasions ;  and  I  think  it  likely  that  he  separates 
from  liis  mate  at  the  commencement  of  the  j)criod  of  in- 
cubation, and  remains  by  himself  until  the  young  are  able 
to  provide  for  themselves. 

When  living  in  the  neigliborhood  of  fresh  water,  this  bird 
has  many  of  the  habits  of  the  other  Mergansers,  and  tlion 
foods  on  aquatic  insects  and  their  larva),  and  is  an  expert 
fisher  and  diver. 

When  the  female  is  suddenly  surprised,  wliile  with  licr 
young  in  a  stream  or  ])ond,  she  gives  a  guttural,  chattel ing 
cry,  when  the  whole  l)rood  dives  and  swims  olT  under  water 
to  the  shore,  where  they  conceal  themselves  in  the  a(puitic 
herbage.  While  they  are  thus  retreating,  the  mother  simu- 
lating lameness,  almost  exactly  like  some  of  the  shore-liirds 
on  the  beach,  flutters  l)cforc  the  intrude)',  using  every  arti- 
fice to  decoy  him  from  the  ncighi)orhood  of  her  young, 


THE  HOODED   MEU,;anser.  ggj 

-uchos  gunshot  slH.  «   L'  :    M   '  ';^  '"  ''^'•«""    '-^-   I'O 

P«'I'llin«l.ol.in,lhcr,  '"!"%  »«.  with  her  whole  brood 

"ntil    she    turns    a 

point    (,r    neck    in 

tl>o  pon.l  or  stream 

vlu're   she   happens 
to  Ijo,  whon,siIen'  V 
creeping  into  shoi,., 
«lio,  with  Iter  hro.jcl,  f 
hides  herself  in  flio'^ 
J't'rbage  on  the  land 
until  the  danger  is 

--;.«■  r,„,u  ,„„:';:;,.:r  "'•••"• "'"«» »" «-  »-'or  ^  aw  ti,oi.. 

sliol  and  l,a.s  i;,l|,,,  ,„  „,„      """• '  'at  cvoii  afttT  it  has  l,„ci, 

'■'■•'>■■"'■  of  .1,0  s ;,'n,;.f     "  """'■'"" '™ "''" "'« 

"I'his  Mc.,p,„Hor    a  ,  h  ■"  "'"^'■"■'^■l'°»  «"  tl.e  act 

l'»'l  l^koM  po».sc'  •       1 ,  I         ,    7  '"""""''"'  "f  "I""!'  «1'0 

»'.-  ti.„  ,v,„j.,„,  left ; ''  1  '";;:;"';^  ""•-^•'  "■«'. 

possession  of  it  •  n,„l    Ml.        ,      ,     '  ^^'^''•ganscr  took 

«ume.  '  '"^'  ^^^'^^^  «^'«  l^^^fc  it,  the  other  did  the 


•li  f 


of  her  young, 


I 


li 


582 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND  OOLOOT. 


Tribe  TOTIPALMI.^ 


Family  SULIDiE.    The  Gannkts. 

Bill  rnthor  lonff,  Bfrni(?ht,  gidoH  comprcsded,  very  strong,  tnperinR  to  flic  pninf, 
■whicli  is  a  littlo  dccurvod;  nostrils  Imnlly  olisi'rvnl)l<>i  wIiikh  very  luiif;;  tail  long 
and  cuneatej  toes  long,  and  all  joini'd  by  full  webs;  gulur  sac  mudfrato. 


SULA,   PmssoN. 

Siila,  BniasoN,  Omith.  (1700).  (Typo  Pelecamm  hn«»nnii>.) 
Hill  rather  longer  llinn  the  head,  straight,  stout  at  the  base,  with  the  sides  ooin- 
prcsscd,  grooved  near  tlie  tip.  wlii<h  is  a  little  eurved,  the  eiitliiig  edges  serrated 
irregularly;  nostrils  basal  and  seareely  percept ible;  wings  lengthened;  tail  rather 
long  and  inneli  graduated;  tarsi  short  and  stout;  toes  long,  and  joined  together  hy 
lull  webs;  claws  moderate,  the  middle  one  serrated;  gular  wic  rather  moderate. 
These  birds  usually  freipient  almost  inadessible  rocky  i.^lands,  where  they  con- 
gregate in  great  numbers  during  the  season  of  reprod\ictioii,  at  other  times  migrat- 
ing along  the  coast.    Their  liight  is  rapid,  powerful,  and  long-continued. 


SULA  BASSANA.  —  FiH^.m,,. 

The  Common  Gannet;  Solan  Goose. 

Pelecnmis  basunniin,  T.innieiis.     Syst.  Nat.  (17CG),  217. 

Siiln  hiisMinn,  Nuttall.  Man.,  II.  (1834)  495.  Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  222. 
n>.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1844)  44. 

DKsrniPTioN. 

General  color  of  the  plumage  white;  bill  bluish-gray;  bare  space  nronnd  the  oyc 
and  on  the  throat  blackish-blue;  primaries  l)rownish-black,  tirst  longest. 

Adult.  —  The  color  of  the  plumage  generally  is  white,  the  lu-ad  and  hind  neck 
being  of  a  fine  bulT-yellow;  alula  and  primaries  brownish-black;  shafls  white  for 
about  two-thirds  their  length  from  the  base,  thence  gradually  becoming  dark-brown; 
bill  pale  bluish-gray,  greenish  at  the  liase,  the  lines  on  the  upper  mandibli^  blackish- 
blue;  bare  space  in  the  region  of  the  eye,  and  down  the  centre  of  the  throat 
blackish-blue;  iris  white;  tarsi,  toes,  and  their  webs,  blackish-t)rown;  the  lines  of 
scutellffi  on  the  tarsi  and  toes  green;  claws  bluish-white.  The  female  resembles  the 
male,  but  is  rather  smaller.  The  young  hav;  the  head,  neck,  and  upper  plumage 
dark-brown,  each  feather  terminating  with  a  triangular  white  spot;  under  pluinajjc 
grayish-white,  the  feathers  broadly  margined  with  grayish-brown. 

1  See  Introduction. 


TnK   rOMMON   QANNRT. 


683 


}ng-contimic(l. 


niofc.,  IV.  (1838)  222. 


Jfnb.- Atlantic  o.,a,t,  (V,.,,.  |,ai.n.,|„r  .„  ,h„  UulC  uf  Mexico 

A    a„.l  ,|„-„K,„,„1  ,|„-,„„-l,  U,o  ,..oa,e,.  part  of  the"    Z 
Audul.„„,  ,„  do«cHI,i„g  ii,  l,,„eUi„g  habits,  »„y„:l 
"  The  no«,ly  fl„w,„,l  „„„  „f  ,|,i,  ,,;„,  . 

t.me  «„.,.„,,  tho  formw  l,oi„s  M  ,i„,.,  1„.„,„X  f!  " 

I'ntraiiccs  to  tlic  1„„tow,  of  tl„.  l.,,,,,,,   T,,  "»'   ""'  ko    tl,e 

.n;og„].,r  ,,,„«,*„  coating  „f  white  c^lcjo,     Z^^"t   "" 


firfy^M- 


584 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Alt 


H    ' 


I'll; 'II 


'  ill 


Family  GRACULlDiE.    The  Cormorants. 

Bill  rather  moderate,  culmen  concave,  tip  much  hooked  and  acute;  nostrils  not 
perceptible;  winjjs  moderate  and  pointed;  tail  rather  short  and  rounded;  tarsi 
short;  toes  lony  and  all  joined  by  full  webs;  gular  sac  capable  of  considerable 
expansion. 

GRACULUS,  LiNN.Kus. 

Graculus,  Linn.eus,  Sj-st.  Nat.  (1735).  (Type  Pelecanus  carbo,  L.) 
IJill  rather  slender,  of  moderate  length,  with  the  culmen  concave,  hooked  at  tlie 
tip,  the  sides  compressed  and  f^rooved;  nostrils  not  visilile  in  the  adult;  wiiif;s  mod- 
erately lonf,'  and  i)()iuted,  second  and  third  primaries  longest;  tail  moderate  and 
graduated  at  the  end;  tarsi  short  and  much  compressed;  toes  long  and  full-wehlied- 
a  leathery  pouch  at  the  base  of  the  lower  mandible,  which  can  be  much  distend,.,!.  ' 
These  birds  exist  abundantly  in  all  parts  of  the  globe.  They  are  niostlv  found 
on  the  seacoast,  breeding  on  rocky  ledges  difficult  of  access,  and  also  on  trees. 
They  arc  exceedingly  exi)ert  in  catching  tish;  being  very  active  in  the  water,  and 
capable  of  remaining  under  its  surface  for  a  great  length  of  time. 

GEACULUS    CARBO.— Gray. 

The  Common  Cormorant. 

Phalacrocornx  carlo,  Nnttall.  Man..  IL  (1834)  479.  Aud.  Cm.  lJio<'.  HI 
(1835)458.     /*.,  Birds  Am.,  VI.  (1843)  412.  °' 

Graculus  carbu,  Graj'.    Gen.  of  Uirds  (1845). 

Description. 

Lluish-black;  fe.ithers  on  middle  of  occiput  and  liinil  neck  elongated;  gular  sac 
yellow,  ,it  the  base  of  which  is  a  liroad  banil  of  while;  linear  feathers  on  the  licail 
and  neck  white;  a  patch  of  white  on  the  si,les;  third  jirimary  longest;  tail  of  four- 
teen feathers. 

^l(/«/^  —  riumage  in  general  black,  glossed  with  greenish-blue;  the  feath,  rs  of  the 
upper  part  and  sides  of  the  back  ami  wing  coverts  are  dark-ash,  with  broiizcl  ntlcc- 
tions,  and  bordered  with  grcnish-black;  priinarii's  and  tail  feathers  gravisli-black 
secondaries  grayish-brown  ;  bare  space  around  the  eye  dull-olive,  lunler  the  eve  ri'd- 
the  gular  sac  yellow,  encircling  tlie  lower  jiart  of  which  is  a  broad  band  of  white; 
numerous  linear  filamentous  white  feathers  aic  ilistributed  over  the  luiiil  ami  iie,k; 
on  the  side,  over  thf  thigh,  is  a  jiatch  of  elongat,',!  linear  white  feathers:  upper  man- 
dible gnjyish-bl.'ck,  with  the  edges  yelldwisli-white,  lnwer  dusky  yellowish-whiK;  at 
the  base;  iris  bluish-green;  eyelids  with  dusky  margins;  tarsi,  feet,  anil  claws 
gravish-black. 

The  bill  is  strong  and  powerful,  the  ridge  is  smooth,  but  the  sides  of  both  mandi- 
bles are  rugose. 

Length,  thirty-seven  inches;  wing,  fourteen;  bill,  three  and  til'ty  one-hundredlhs; 
tail,  six  and  lilty  one-hundredths  inches. 


Ir 


[1.  Orn.  Biog.,  HI, 


iilfs  of  both  niand;- 


fl}-  oni'-hiimlKHltlis; 


THE  DOUBLE-CRESTED   CORMORANT. 


585 


The  fe,    ,    resembles  the  male,  but  is  smaller. 

ble  for  the  purpose  ot;roau     ^^^^Z^:^  J;"''^"''-'  ^•"«-  '-««  "-''«"  a-em- 
of  rocky  cliffs.  """^t'"",  fonning  their  ne.ts  upon  the  inaccessible  ledges 

wings.  '  '"'"''  ""'>'  '"''ke  rap„l  progress  by  the  aid  of  their 

T™;r;r,!''  P'="^/»'™™  o"  o„r  coast  i,.  ao  lattc- 
f  ;".'!:  ''"'  I  '<""'  '^"■gly  »■■-  at  most,  l,,  pairs.     It  is  S„ 

iaco  of  tins  b,rd  m  our  noigl,b„rl,„od.    There  it  build    a 
arge  ucst  of  seaweeds  on  shelves  of  steep  eliffs  or  i    eTev 

ll.cy  a  e  of  a  bluisb-greeu  eolor  which  is  covered    over 
nearly  then-  whole  surface,  with  a  calcareous  depo4     l°  ej 

GEACULUS    DILOPHUS.-C,v,^. 
The  Double-crested  Cormorant. 

(1830,  420,  V.  (18.0,  028.     y..,  ,„,„  .^  J^,    l^^^J    ^^  "     ^-•-  «-•  Biog.,  III. 
&/■-,.• ./«.  Mo„hus,  Gray.    Gen,  of  Birds  (1845,. 

DKsciiii'rioN', 
Greenish-lilack;    beliiml  c/irh  ovn  .,   ..  i 

orange;  .econd ,.  iHi  lo.gj.;';:'  7r:,:::;::t:'''  °'  '"*^"  ''""■^^^'  ^'"^  -« 

coverts,  the  .capularies  „;d  tcr,;:;   :;L      ,    t:  irV.  "T  'T''  ^"^  ""'«- 
wluch  are  grc.,MnVh-l,la.k ;  pri.naric.  1  it       ,,  ,  '''^'-  "'"  '"■'"-'■"^  »'' 

secontlaries  dark  gnuisl,-, low    !,.;'''  '''""•  ''r"":  ""  "-'  '""-  -''^^  the 
"■'•  Ih;I  over  the  eve  i's  a  line  of  wh      H  "''  "'"  ''"-'  •^'""*^'  '■'"">""''  •-•<»" 

.he  sttme  charactt.  s.   s    ^  .  t     W  f  I""  '^f  T'-""-  --  "l.o  a  ,ew  of 
rather  long  .lender  fblthers      l!    '  r  ,„  I  ""'';  '1'""'  "'""  "^•'"  '^  '^  ""*  "^ 

ol'tho  eve,  and  gular  ,ac  t™.  ".';7''''''''   '""•«  -^l'"^'''  "'  ">t'  region 

y-llowish;    low.i  ^"  li     '        :S;      :"";";"""'t  '"-kisl-brown,  .ith  the  ejges 


=  k\ 


I 


536. 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Length,  thirty-three  inches;  wing,  thirteen ;  tail,  six  and  seventy-five  one-hun- 
dredths  inches. 

Ilab.  —  Atlantic  coast  from  Labrador  to  Carolina;  fur  countries;  Pacific  coast 
from  Washington  Territory  to  California. 

This  species  resorts  in  largo  nunibors  to  the  low  islands  off  the  const  of  Labrador, 
which  are  their  breeding  stations:  they  construct  their  nests  on  the  surface  of  the 
rocks,  not  on  the  shelves  of  precipices. 

I  once  witnessed  a  large  inigrating  Hight  of  those  '^rds  to  the  South,  along  our 
seacoast.  They  passed  in  great  flocks,  which  succeeded  each  other  frequently  during 
the  entire  day:  each  flock  fonned  a  widely  extended  front,  the  individuals  being 
side  by  side.  Their  mode  of  fliglit  was  by  alternate  flapping  of  the  wings,  and  tlieir 
sailing  for  a  short  distance,  the  etl'ect  of  which  was  peculiar  and  striking.  —  Geouqe 
W.  Lawrence. 


I  think  that  this  species  is  more  northern  in  its  habits 
than  the  i^reccding,  as  it  is  seldom  seen  on  the  coast  of  New- 
England  except  in  the  winter  months,  and  then  only  in 
small  numbers.  Unlike  the  preceding,  it  does  not  breed 
south  of  the  coast  of  Labrador ;  anu,  in  nesting,  does  not 
frequent  high  precipices,  but  i)refers  low  rocky  islands.  The 
jK.'&t  is  similar  to  that  of  the  other :  and  the  eggs,  although 
averaging  smaller,  are  hardly  recognizable  from  those  of 
the  Common  Cormorant ;  an  ordinary  large  one  of  the 
present  being  of  similar  form  and  size  with  the  other. 


leventy-five  one-hun- 
intries;   Pacific  coast 


THE  SKUA-GULLS. 


687 


Family  LARIDiE.    The 


Gulls. 


"'-is  or  this  ,a„.ily  ,K.,„K.„{  ,|,e  sh  1  If       '  o     -^"T"  '"'"  '"^'^vated. 
consi.ts  p,,.u.ipai,,  0.-  d  and  ^^^'^^J^  ;':;;;"';  7""  """^-'tly.    Thei.M.: 

jp.  tp::;::^;;^  ';:':;;;:::;r:;::;:!;;;-">'  --f...,  <.!.;„.  .o.  t,. 

LAiti.\.K._(„v,.ri„..'  of  tin.  I.;ii        .        ''"'  """"te;  body  (uli,  stout. 
^'P^My  robust^;  tail  .a-nerally  eve!;    '    """"  ^-"^'^'^'-^l^ly  decurved  towardfthe 

^-  ■"-  -.-an  the  ^pi^r^;' S's^^/ t;;:,:2:;Ld  s.'-- 


i,i  ii 


Bill  strong  and  inuch  cm-v,.,l  at  the  on,l  th.  i 
cere;  .i.,,sh.„,the„ed,  tail  euneate^  ti^  ^  t^:;:;--;  "'"'  «  -n.branous 
Ihese  hardy  birds  inhabit  th.  hiuh  Ini.Mi        .""-'■■' '"■''•i"^'f"'S' 

<.•..■  •.a'.i.s,  appearing  to  d.rive  their  1      ^  e^     '  .^r-;'"-     '''^y  -^  Pi™.i.v.i  i„ 
lli'y  ehase  and  harass  ^arious  species  ,„'  ,•„  '  *"""  ""•'  '=''""•'  "f  others. 

'■-  -  -'r '-'.  -'- '".'  -t  a;c:;:;:!r  s-^- ;-;^ « p^. 

STERCORARIUS,  U„,ssox. 

S^j.v.m,.,W,Hrisson.     Or„i,holosie(l7G0). 

ee..t;:;:!;i:::;- -;;:r.r2;;::''r-'  ^^  ""^  --  — h 

quill  longest;  tail  of  nn.derate  ^  Z"  "mI'        '''  ^^"'"^  l-'-'-I;  'i-t 

^.ron,.,  and  cov..red  wi-h  pron.in    "t    :J  "    I    '""        """'""^  "'""^^'^^'^  '"^-• 
ft.l'r  webbed;  ,,„d  toe  sh  rt,  and  ^    i;    ,^  ^f  "'■•  ""'^  '"-"  -^-d;  teet 


538 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY, 


i'l 


STEECORAEIUS   POMARINUS.  —  TemmincJc. 
The  Pomarine  Skua. 

Lestrispomarinus,  Nuttull.    Man.,  II.  (1834)  316.     Aud.  Birds  Am.,  VIL  (1844) 

186. 

Description. 

Adult.  —Front,  crown  of  the  head,  hack,  wings,  and  tail,  blackisli-hrown;  sides 
and  buck  part  of  the  neck  briglit-ycUow;  tliroat  and  eiitiie  under  piuniage  white, 
with  a  band  of  brown  spots  extending  across  tlie  upper  part  of  tiie  breast;  sides 
and  Inwer  tail  coverts  barred  with  brown;  shatts  of  ((tiills  and  tail  fcatliers  white; 
bill  greenisli-olive,  black  at  the  tip;  legs  and  feet  black;  the  middle  tail  feathers 
extend  bcvond  the  others  for  about  two  inches ;  they  are  rounded  at  the  end,  and  of 
a  uniform  breadth  throughout. 

Young  birds  have  the  plumage  of  the  upper  parts  blackish-brown;  of  the  lower, 
grayish-brown,  with  the  feathers  of  the  al)donien  and  lower  tail  coverts  margined 
with  duU-fcrrugiiuius;  tarsi  and  base  of  the  toes  and  webs  yellow. 

Length,  twenty  inches;  wing,  fourteen;  tail,  eight  to  nine;  bill,  one  and  three- 
quarters  ;  tarsus,  two  inches. 

THIS  Species  is  not  uncommon  on  our  north-east  coa^t  in 
the  autumn  aud  winter  montlis.  "  It  subsists  on  putrid 
and  other  animal  sul)stances  thrown  up  by  the  sea,  and 
also  on  fish  and  other  matters  which  the  Gulls  disgorge 
when  pursued  by  it.  It  also  devours  the  eggs  of  sea-birds." 
It  breeds  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  country  and  other  northern 
localities ;  nesting  "  in  elevated  spots  in  the  marshes,  or 
upon  rocks  ;  making  a  coarsely  interlaced  nest  of  the  sur- 
rounding luoss  and  herbage;  laying  two  or  three  very 
pointed  eggs,  of  a  grayish-olive,  marked  with  a  small  num- 
ber of  blackish  spots."  —  Nuttall. 


STEECORAEIUS  PARASITICUS.  —  Temminck. 

The  Arctic  Skua. 

Larusp<rrfis!tlrii.i.\.iunnH\i\.    Syst.  Nat.,  I.  (175C)  226. 

Stemfrariiis p(iriifiticii.<,  Tenniiinck.     Alan.  d'()rn.,  II.  (1820)  706. 

A..i^/.i  RulKirdson'd,  Nuttall.      Man.,  II.  (1H;J4)  319.    Aud.   IJirus  Am.,  VIL 

(1844)  lUO. 

Deschiitiox. 

Adult. Upper  part  of  the  head   blackish-brown;   nape  and  sides  of  the  mck 

yellowish -white;  remainder  of  upper  plumage  lilackisli -brown ;  wings  and  tail 
darker;  shai'ts  of  tin-  primaries  white:  under  plumage  whit',',  bill  lilui>^li  at  the  liase, 
black  at  the  point;  tarsi  and  feet  black;  the  central  tail  feathers  extend  bcMnid  .be 


irds  Am.,  VII.  (1844) 


THE  GULLS. 


539 


others  about  three  inches-  fl,pvf„ 
the  e,.d,  where  they  are  ab   ZvT"    •'  "'^''  '''^^'-Shut  h'ttle  in  breadth  unf. 
other  .peeie.  '''^"'^"^  "— -^^l-  ditfering  ia  this  purtierrfi.:;'    .^ 

r^t-'i'Ktli,  twenty  to  twenty  two  •     i 

b..codi„„.,,,,eo  i.,  al.„  i„  tl,o  fa    :^;,r%'"  '"'"°'  """  "« 

J0,c,ul,l„  tl,o  egg,  ottko  La4w,"G,  '""''.'"«'»■■«'■ 
color  vanes  from  a  gree„i.,I„T„  %  '  ^''""'Pninary 
olivaeeous-green.    Tl,i,  i!  „    ,    f  • "  *''"  l"«lon,inatiuK 

aoa  «on.e  .,,.3  of  oL,:  ™'.,    .^"^  ,  "^  "^  g™tor  end, 
from  2.23  by  l.GO  i„cl,  t„  'oj^by  J'_;"j;'""«"-'»"«  vary 


M 


!'       i 


Bill  diflbring  considerably  i„  strength  an.I  r 
-'■•^  -.".press..,!;   the  ..,.ln,en  straij  "      T  ,      '"=  .r"-""'r  '^fai^^I.t,  with  the 

;;-.  ;.r  .>-ed.  tarsi  -'.^A.ronj:;;;:i:i;:::tr- ^^  ^r  t.,ree  ci:;: 

,,,,  .^•'v    u,  liind  toe  sliort  and 

.-»;:f;"::^:t^,r!;i;;:: -;-.-»•■- -.,„«„,.,„ 

».-o:;::;:.s:™lta'rrv';t''f''''"^  "-«••"» 

l™."tb  to  tbem  ,,„,,,     ThovZ    '        T"  ""''  """''"^  "' 
*i'.«  i..  tbei,.  l.ilU  i,.  t , '  w,  er,  ^"■''''''  ""■■'•  "'■'^■" 


# 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


young,  which  they  cat.     They  are,  in  the  water,  ahnost  pre- 
cisely what  the  Crows  and  Jays  are  on  the  land. 


-~       LARUS  mARimS.  — Li nmrus. 
The  Great  Black-backed  GulL 

Larm  mnnnits,  Linnfciis.  Syst.  Nat,  L  (1766)  225.  Nutt.  Man.,  IL  (183-1)  308. 
And.  IJirds  Am.,  VIL  (1844)  172. 

Description. 

Adult  — T\w  lipail,  nock,  ontire  iukUt  plumage,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  tail 
are  puro-white;  the  back  aiul  wiii^s  are  of  a  dark-slate  color;  the  iiriinarics  are  deop 
black,  lar^ady  (ipiied  witli  wliito,  as  are  the  extremities  of  most  of  the  quills;  the 
bill  is  pimbof,'c-ycllo\v,  with  an  i-range-red  spot  near  the  end  of  the  lower  mandiljle; 
legs  and  let  pak'-ycllow:  iris  whiio. 

Youn;/.—  Head,  rinnp,  and  luiilcr  iilumage  grayish-white,  with  streaks  of  light- 
brown;  back  and  wings  motllod  with  browiiish-ash  and  grayish -wiiite;  priiiiarifs 
blackish-brown,  having  the  tips  edged  with  white;  tail  white,  spotted  with  hruun, 
and  liaving  a  broad  Pi.i  niniinal  band  of  the  same  color;  bill  brownish-black,  vil- 
lowish  at  the  base;  legs  aiiil  feet  yellow. 

Length,  aliout  thirty  inches;  wing,  twenty;  tail,  nine;  bill,  two  mid  len-twelftlis; 
tarsns,  twi;  twclttlis  of  an  inch. 

//(i/a  —North  Atlantic,  Labrador;  as  far  south  as  Florida  in  winter. 


The  Black-hacked  Gull  is  of  freqnoiit  occurrence  on  our 
coast  in  the  autumn  aud  winter  months;  and,  according  to 
Jkir,  George  A.  Boardman,  a  lew  breed  as  far  south  as  the 
islands  in  the  Bay  of  Fundy.  Audubon  describes  its 
breeding  habits  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  nest  of  this  .species  is  usually  placed  on  the  biire  rock  of 
some  low  island,  sometimes  beneath  .i  projecting  shelf,  sometimes 
ill  a  wide  fissii'-e.  In  Labrador,  it  is  formed  of  moss  and  seaweeds 
carefully  arranged,  and  has  a  diameter  of  about  two  feet;  liciii;' 
raised  on  the  edges  to  the  heiglit  of  live  or  six  inches,  but  seldom 
more  than  two  inches  thick  in  tiie  centre,  where  feathers,  dry  grass, 
and  other  materiiils,  are  addeil.  Tiie  eggs  are  three,  ami  in  no 
instance  have  1  found  more.  They  ar((  two  inches  and  scveii- 
ei'diths  in  length  by  two  inches  and  one-eighth  in  breadth ;  broiidly 
ovate ;  rough,  but  not  granulated ;  of  a  pale  earthy  greeiiisli-L'iay 
color,  irregidarly  blotched  and  spotted  with  brownish-black,  durk- 
umber,  and  u  d-purple." 


THE   HERRIXG   GULL. 


541 


tt.  Man.,  IL  (183-1)  308. 


LAEDSAEGENTATDS.-5,.,„,„VA. 
The  Herring  Gull;  the  Silvery  Gull 

^  ,  ,  Description. 

'i.'.t;:.a;;:;^;:n,:t;S;ir;;:r'"i  tai,,p..re-white; ,...,  „,.a .,.,, 
wi.ich  b..,,.,  on  the  fi.t  at  a,!:  t^- ";;;;'''?  '"r^  ""^''^  ^•■^■^  -">  ^^'-^ 

^e.H;.l  on  the  others  until  it  beeon,  s  „  1   '  ^   '    '''"'  ^'"^  ''""' «"'!  "'^  ■•"imlly  les 
>"-es  all  tippe.,  with  white,  ^Z ^^^  ^^nT'T  '"  "^^  ""=  •^'■^•"  '  "-  P^ 
extent,  crossed  nea.  the  cn.l  with  a    la.^  b      i  t'      ""  ""  ''""  """  '  "«''"> 
-'"to  spot  on  the  inner  web  near  the      d  •  !  ■  "  ,         '"""'"  I'"'"  "'^"•'''  ''«  •»  round 
-'>.  w,.i,e;  bill  bri,ht.-el,ow,  wi,   '^tan ^  ^T  f""  '^^^'"''''"^  "^--"y  -••i-g 

'"'J-    ^-"f  ^>i'tlesn,alh.rtii',:^2\    ';  ---^-''■^;  tarsuMwo  and 

//"A. -Atlantic  coast  from  Tex.s  t„  ","'''"';'""'»•■  "'  pluniajre. 
Mississippi  Rivers.  ^•^"'  '"  ''"^•^^•^""'"Hand,   n^estern  .States;  Ohio  an.l 

This  species  is  ah.u.dant  ,>n  our  coast  in  fl.         . 
^vlnter,  and  until  lato  in  sprin-.-  .,..1  '  •  "'"'"' 

seen  throuo-h  the  whole  s.n    ncS'     J  V'''"''"^'^ '"'^^ 

^ntly  breedin,  ahont  the  vl^,  [^^'^7^  ^^l'^^ 

KnglaiiJ,  ,„th  „i.  ,L  '    ,   "m'"'"'""'""""  "'  No- 

i"  'i.e  g,.„ato»t  .aim  11,   , "';.:; ''"  ""f™--- "  '"■=* 

cuuiilrios,  whore  it  ,.0,11'  ,'"'"'"'"'■  ;""J  "«!.«  ..orthem 

"'  '■■«-  The  i,ii-d, «  ;   rV  "  T"""^'  '•'"'  *™'"-'«™^ 
»wy  i..-.d  no.,,,  i,  t,;  '      I,   V  "    '"'"  ^''"'"'S""  '"••■^■ 

e^'^-s  or  tlio  Ilon-iiig  ,i,i,,  „,,  ,„  ,1  .^,  ' .  '  ";  '"I-  T„o 
mark-nigs.  that  hardly  aiiv  ,,,.,.,  ,'"""• '^'''"'■'"'"l 
A  groat  ,iu,„l,er  of  ,po  i^  t  '■ '  '"  """  ''"  ''"^•"'S"''e. 
f"""  from  al,r,i,„i;,„at'  '  ,  I'"'  "'"^■'■•""'  '''"■  "' 
-or  vario,  froL'^a  ;  -oi  lo^rt""'  "i™'"'^-  -r"™' 
-uJ   thoir  markiiigjf,!    Zr  »l'™«'™«.drab ; 

,3   Hum   thickly  sjiatlerod   bluldies  of 


*:i 


Hr' 


542 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


black  to  different  browns  and  obscure -purples.  Their 
dimensions  vary  from  2.85  by  2.05  inch  to  2.05  by  1.85 
inch.  Large  si)ecimens  of  this  species  cannot  be  distin- 
guished from  small  ones  of  the  preceding. 


I'flff }' 


CIIROICOCEPnALUS,  Eyton. 

Cliroicocephnliis,  Eyton,  Cat.  Urit.  Birds  (1830). 

liill  iiiodiTutc,  ratlier  b^lunilfr,  iihkIi  comim'sscd ;  upper  mandible  strniKlit  at  base 
more  or  less  curved  at  the  end;  nostrils  lateral  and  lonj;itudinal;  winj^s  lonj,^  nar- 
row, and  pointed;  tail  moderate,  usually  even;  tarsi  rather  slender;  feet  webbed; 
bind  toe  small  and  elevated. 

These  Gulls  are  of  nuilium  or  snuiU  size:  in  their  spring  attire,  the  head  is 
clothed  witli  a  dark-ciilored  hood;  but  in  the  winter  it  becomes  white,  with  a  dusky 
s])()t  liehind  the  ear.  These  binU  are  very  handsome,  the  dark  and  light  colors  of 
tlielr  plunnige  forming  a  beautiful  contrast. 


ti     f 


mi:   ;* 


CHEOICOCEPHALUS  ATEICILLA.— A 
The  Laughing  Gull. 


awrence. 


Lnrus  alrkilht,  Liunwus.    S^vst.  Xat.,  L  (17GG)  225.    Bon.  Syn.  (1828),  No.  294. 
Nutt.  Man.,  II.  (1834)  291.    Ami.  Birds  Am.,  VH.  (1844)  130. 
Lams  rii/ibi( mills.     Wils.,  IX.  (1824)  89. 

DKscmi'TiON. 

Ailuh. —  Uiiul  and  up|)er  part  of  neck  blackish  lead-gray,  extending  lo- ■^'-  in 
front;  ujiper  and  lower  eyelids  white  posteriorly;  lower  i)art  of  neck,  entire  under 
liiumage,  rump,  and  tail,  pure-white;  in  sjiring,  a  beautiful  roseate  tint  exists  on  the 
breast  an<l  alidouu-n;  back  and  wings  grayish-lead  color;  the  lirsl  six  iirinuiries  are 
black,  beginning  on  the  first  at  about  two-thirds  of  its  length  from  the  point,  and 
regularly  bec<iming  less  on  the  others,  until,  on  the  sixth,  it  is  reduced  to  two  spots 
near  the  end;  tips  in  some  specimens  white,  and  in  others  black  to  tlieir  points;  bill 
and  inside  of  the  month  dark-carmine;  iris  bluish-black:  legs  and  feet  deeji-red;  in 
winter  the  head  becomes  white,  intermixed  on  the  crown  and  hind  neck  with  brown- 
ish-gray. 

I-ength,  seventeen  inches;  wing,  thirteen;  tail,  five;  bill,  one  and  three-fourtiis; 
tarsus,  two  inches. 

Jldb.  —  Texas  to  Massachusetts. 

This  handsome  bird  is  a  resident  on  our  coasts  througli 
the  year,  but  is  not  at  all  abundant.  It  nests  in  the 
marshes,  making  only  a  loose  structure  of  a  few  pieces  of 
seaweeds  oi  grasnes,  which  it  places  in  a  sandy,  elevated 
spot,  whore  the  tides  do  not  reach.  The  eggs  are  three  iu 
number.     Their  form  is  usually  ovoidal,  sometimes  ovate. 


•  purples.     Their 

to  2.05  by  1.85 

cannot  be  distin- 


3* 


latulihle  strniKlit  at  base, 
idiiiiil;  wiiif^s  loiif,^,  imr- 
r  slender;  feet  webln'il ; 

m^  attire,  the  head  ij 
lies  white,  with  a  (hisky 
ark  and  liglit  colurs  of 


rence. 


n.  Syn.  (1828),  No.  2!)4. 
IQ. 


ay,  extendiiij;  lo-  "■'  in 
•t  of  necl<,  entire  undir 
oseate  tint  exists  on  tiie 
e  lirsf  six  i)riniaries  are 
;th  from  the  point,  and 
is  reihieed  to  two  sjiets 
aek  to  their  points;  bill 
,'s  and  feet  dee|)-red ;  in 
liind  neck  with  brown- 
one  and  three-fourtlis; 


ir  coasts  througli 
It  nests  in  the 
a  few  pieces  of 
I  sandy,  elevated 
:rgs  are  tln-ee  in 
sometimes  ovate. 


It 

'A 

I't'l 

i? 

f    : 

Woh 

M\r::ll 

.US  .\n 


■ 

m 

^ 

III™ 

"tT 

Ff  • 

!t 

^^■n 

HUH 

iinr.' 

i            1 

IH 

^^■M 

■i;',;: 

,i 

nl 

^^^■fl'' 

lirii 

l^„ 

^^■Mf' 

' !  1^1 

y^^j^ 

Hph 

,|[fl 

111 

|hi; 

'  '•" 

WP 

^H^p-^ 

^ 

► 

^^^^■^1     '  i 

' 

'  H 

■ 

Hi4 

ifaiU^ 

jBiiy||| 

■ftp 

V 

">i'JB 

Blfe^iL 

J     '   .  ' 

i 

.       r 

H 

i. 

fe 

^ 

i9 

» 

I     V   II 


'     1    II. 


I.lll'.l 


Mill-  (ilill,    ^,.j 


v**«^^■^;. 


Ki'tlHfili, 


llll-.'  f.liil.    r; 


t       H  i|. 


<'llll,  li 


'H*  Tcni.  S; 


i.cisf  Tern,  .Sf, 


'"'"'"■■"■•■  r.rniini.-|,, 
"'•I'li'i'iii  ntrin'iit.  I.i 
IIonnp,ir),» 
onu.     r--.|',-in,-ir*r 


fS\if  trt 

■'11(7  ir,/< 


I'l.-mil .  I 


,%. 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


^ 


/. 


.// 


/ 


(s!, 


fA 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


;f  iiM  iM 

1^  IM    112.2 

If  itf  liiiio 


1.4 


6" 


1.8 


16 


I'llUlUgidpillLi 

Sciences 
Coiporation 


# 


%^ 


m 


23  WEST  MAIN  STRIET 

WtBSTER.N.Y.  HS80 

(716)  872-4503 


^Q> 


\ 


^ 
*> 


#>   A^^    '-^rvN 


f^ 


^BLo  /////        ^^^ 


c?., 


'J- 1 


/•k"' 


.■ 


BONAPAitTE's  GDLL. 


648 


!i'oon   "  Tl  •  "  ""  <"™'=°"»-''™'',  somotimo,  a  grayish- 

obscure  .narkings  of  the  ^e  '  "'"■  '™'-P'°'  '"«' 

Ti,o,r  d,mo«si„„,  vary  fr„,„  2.28  by  1,65  inch  to  2  by  1  50 

tHEoiCOCEPHALUS  PHILADELPHIA.  -  Z„..e„ce. 

Bonaparte's  Gull. 

^^Lar.  Bona^anei,  Nutta.l.     Man.,  II.  (1S34)  20..     Aud.  Birds  A™.,  VII.  (,s,4) 

Desckii'tion. 

r.mp,  and  tail,  .Lite,,  back  and  w  ^  ,     T^  i^r^rr"'  ""''  ""'^^^  P'"'"«^-' 
outer  web;  inner  web  of  the  flrst  nntar,  .     •     '"•■^' P^'-W  black  on  the 

>veb  of  the  third,  white;  the  h.     r  Z  oTt.      I  'T  "  "'  ""  "'"'""'  "'"^  ">'^  -'er 
0'-  the  same  color  as  the  ba  k     he  "fon  "'  ""''  '"'  ""■  ""'''''  P"'»""«S  »- 

extent  of  about  an  inch  t^ClZ:^!'^^  ''''7,  ''f  ^"'^  '""^'^  '^  *'- 
are  all  slightly  tipped  with  whil  >        '  "'  °"  ^''^  *^''«*  «"'!  ^ixth.-tl.ey 

1-a.el;  logs  and  t.etLn,e;;vta;;;:;;sh^Sr    '  "'^'^'^  "'■--'--'- ^  i- 
Xo^  l;;;;i::r  ^°  ^^^^  '^"''''  ''''-^'^^^^  ^'-^.  ^^  eountne;,  Pacific  coast  of 

fo.t!^f  h?tl 'r  " 'n  "^  '"™^  ^"  "^^  ^^^«*'  '^»d  is  often 
klelr  "-«l^^-l-od  of  large  tracts  of  water  in  the 

EISSA,  Leach. 
-R'Mfl!,  Leack,  Staph.  Gen.  Zool.,  XIII  n825i  isn     ^t        r 


w      Ik 


nf 


l! 


544 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Irom  the  nostrils  to  the  tip  ;  nostrils  lateral  and  longitudinal  ;  wings  long  and 
pointed;  tail  even;  tarsi  ratlier  short;  toes  slender  and  united  by  a  full  web;  hind 
toe  rudimentary  or  very  small. 


U^L 


\-  EISSA  TRIDACTTLA.  —  i?onnp«rte. 

The  Kittiwake  Gull. 

Laws  triilactylm,  Linnteus.  Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1766)  224.  Nutt.  Man.,  IL  (1834) 
298.    Aud.  Birds  Am.,  VIL  (1844)  146. 

Description. 

Adult.  —  Head,  neck,  entire  under  plumage,  rump,  and  tail,  white;  back  and 
wings  light  bluish-gr!- v ;  tlie  ends  of  the  Ave  outer  primaries,  and  tlie  outer  wob  of 
the  first,  black;  the  fourtii  and  iiftii  have  small  white  tips;  bill  greenish  yellow;  iris 
reddish-brown ;  legs  and  feet  Ijrownish-black,  with  a  green  tinge. 

Yuuny.  —  The  head  is  white,  marked  on  tlie  hind  head  and  neck  with  bluish- 
gray;  a  spot  of  the  same  color  over  the  ears;  a  narrow  crescent  of  black  in  front  of 
tlie  eye;  wings  and  shoulders  marked  with  black;  piimaries  black;  fail  white,  with 
a  subtcrminal  black  band;  bill  black;  rest  of  the  plumage  same  as  in  the  adidt. 

Length,  about  seventeen  inches;  wing,  twelve  ;  tail,  five  and  three-(iuarters; 
bill,  one  and  a  half;  tarsus,  one  and  three-eighths  inches. 

JJiih.  —  Fur  countries;  Labrador;  southern  coast  in  winter. 

This  species  is  rather  common  on  our  coast  througli  tlie 
year.  In  some  seasons,  but  few  are  seen  ;  in  others,  they  are 
pretty  abundant.  Audubon  says  it  breeds  as  far  south  a.s 
the  island  of  Grand  Menan,  off  the  entrance  of  the  Bay 
of  Finidy ;  and  it  probably  also  incubates  on  other  islands 
otr  the  coast  of  Maine.  The  nest  is  composed  of  sea- 
weeds, which  are  arranged  in  a  large  pile,  and  placed  on 
a  ledge  of  rock  in  a  crevice,  or  on  a  jutting  shelf.  This  nest 
is  occupied  for  successive  years ;  and  it  receives  additions  in 
every  season.  The  eggs  arc  three  in  number.  Their  form 
is  usually  ovoidal :  their  color  varies  from  a  creamy-drab, 
with  a  very  slight  olivaceous  tint,  to  a  delicate  gray.  On 
this  are  scattered  blotches  of  ditferent  shades  of  brown, 
and  obscure  spots  and  blotches  of  lilac.  Of  these  eggs  — 
as  of  all  the  eggs  of  Gulls  and  Terns  —  it  is  diflicnlt  to 
give  descriptions  by  which  specimens  could  be  identified. 
The  above  description,  however,  answers  fur  all  the  eggs 
of  this  species  in  my  collection.  The  dimensions  vary  from 
2.20  by  1.60  inch  to  2.04  by  1.55. 


THE  MARSH   TERN. 


545 


I.    Nutt.  Man.,  II.  (1834) 


'S^^-J'arm-Iy  SrmymjE.-  The  Term. 

e'onyatiHl;  pri.naries  long  mul  noil  ', ""'''""'  ''"'""•  ""I  P^vious,  win-^s 

«-..,  ,.,„,  u,e  sn.„li;  .,a,v«  n.od.n^.t  v     'a "l  r:  '""  ""^'^  ""^  -"^-'-r- 

iliosu  bin/s  are  inostiv  f       i  ' '^'"^'-"  and  acute, 

-rive,  and  lakes:  tUey  ^ZZ  :^i:::Z;:'  "1"'"""'^  ^'»^«'  ---""7 
the  mouth  of  inlets,  are  much  o„  the  ^  1^  "  "  '"""  ''''''  »""  P^'-'t-s  at 

and  oasy  fl|,.ht.    Their  food  cons   t      f';,     H  7,  '''"""■'""•'  *"''  "'-'^  '^-vant 
obtan.byi.overingoverandsuddeni?da  t^:  ,.'     "  """  ^^"«^"^'^«'  -'-•'•  'they 

-  -  --"  -  --  ".ey  o.y'::;-;;;^r  ;;-^^^^ 

STERXA,  LixN.Eus, 
^/e.,m,  L,NK.,,us,  Syst.  Nat.  (1748). 

The  Marsh  Tern. 

";■  ««■  .«;.i.e  «p„,,  ,„„„„„;„,  „ "  L  i  ,7 ;;; '"''''7  "-">■  ">»>" « « o" 

"otiuug  of  its  habij  ;v",t,::i;:;'i"  ™^^"'^'  »"^  ■'"" 

35 


f: 


;f?   P': 


ri'i 


546 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


!«• 


1  •■"■ 


«  Tliis  species  I  first  met  on  the  shores  of  Cape  May,  particuhirly 
over  tlie  salt  marshes,  where  it  was  darting  down  after  a  kind  of 
hirge  black  spider,  plenty  in  such  places.  This  spider  can  travel 
under  water,  as  well  as  above,  and,  during  summer  at  least,  seems 
to  constitute  the  principal  food  of  the  present  Tern.  In  several 
which  I  opened,  the  stomach  was  crammed  with  a  mass  of  these 
spiders  alone  :  these  they  frequently  pick  up  from  the  pools,  as  well 
as  from  the  grass,  dashing  down  on  them  in  the  manner  of  their 
tribe.  Their  voice  is  sharper  and  stronger  than  that  of  the  Com- 
mon Tern;  the  bill  is  differently  formed,  being  shorter,  more 
rounded  above,  and  thicker ;  the  tail  is  also  much  shorter,  and  less 
forked.  They  do  not  associate  with  others,  but  keep  in  small 
parties  by  themselves. 

"  This  species  breeds  in  the  salt  marshes.  The  female  drops  her 
eggs,  generally  three  or  four  in  number,  on  the  dry  drift  grass, 
without  the  slightest  appearance  of  a  nest:  they  are  of  a  greenish- 
olive,  spotted  with  brown." 


STERNA    CASPIA.  —  Pallas. 

The  Caspian  Tern. 
Nov.  Com.  Petr.,  XIV.  582. 


Lawr.  Ann.  Lye.  N.Y., 


Sterna  Caspia,  Tallas. 

V.  (1851)  37. 

^  DEscan-noN. 

Adult  -Forehead,  crown,  sides  of  the  head,  and  occiput,  black,  glossed  with 
creen-  tliis  color  extends  helow  the  eye,  under  which  is  a  narrow  wh.te  line;  hack 
and  wings  light  bluish-ash;  the  six  outer  primaries  dark  slate-gray  on  the.r  inner 
,vebs:  nuill  shafts  strong  and  white;  tail  and  its  upper  coverts  grayish-wh.te;  .u..k 
and  entire  under  plumage  pure  white;  bill  and  inside  of  mouth  bright  venn.hon; 
legs  and  feet  black ;  hill  very  stout ;  tail  not  deeply  forked.  ^     ■„  , ,    i 

In  the  young,  the  back,  wing  coverts,  and  tail,  are  mottled  and  barred  with  black- 

''*' Lenglh,  twenty-one  and  a  half  inches;  extent  of  wings,  fifty-one:  from  tlcxure, 
sixteen  and  three-quarters;  bill,  from  base,  two  and  seven-eighths;  tail,  six  inches. 
JJ^,(,,  _  Coast  of  New  Jersey  northward. 

I  include  this  species  on  the  above  authority, 
are  unknown  to  me. 


Its  habits 


■4-        STERNA   WILSONIL  — Sowaparte. 
Wilson's  Tern. 
Sterna  Mmndo,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn.,  VII.  (1813)  76.    Nutt.  Man.,  IL  (1834)  271. 
Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IV.  (1838)  74.    Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1644)  97. 


WILSON'S   TERN. 


547 


Lawr.  Ann.  Lye.  N.Y., 


thority.     Its  habits 


yy«6._Tcxas(o  Labrador. 

-"dy  i«Ia,Kl«  off  '„,„,  2,"       i"    ;  "      r  "'°  '■"'■•l'^'  ""<! 
•ibundant  that  J  l.avo  collocfcd  in  T"'"       °""'°-'''  "  '*•  "" 

mo^t  localities,  it  f„„„s  „o  „,.;  '"'•'"'  "^  '''"■     I" 

«'"J  or  on  tlic  bare  rock      On  ''1  '"  "S*^  °"  "'« 

found  tl,at  it  invanaljy "toped  „    Vf 'n    °f/'"»kogeet,  I 
'"^I'o-  i"  the  sand,  in  wh     ,  it  h  ,  ! '°~'' ""^ '""  °'- "'™ 
»™"goJ  them  with   l,e  ,■      .^     '       f  ""™  »'■  f"'"'  OS'-'S, 
and  built  around  th     "a  W         !  7°"""'  '"  "'«  ""'I'l  <> 
Tl-o  eggs  „,.„  sovaL  i     „X  :?^""«'^-'•g'•a-. 
<l-cri,.tionofthcn,canbe,"ent    ,    ,  ",""""'8"'  "'"'  ™ 
!-«"•    I"  a  great  nun  bt"     ':;*J;^':;  "'7;  ""'»■  "»  .ecog- 

-g  color  is  a  rcddish-drah,  >  iS,  is  I  t"'.     "  r'"'""'"'" 
•^pots  and  eonfinent  blotches  of  d  H-     1^1  "'"'  """""■"'•"' 
a.Kl  ob.,c„ro  blotches  of  cinereoL      m'"'"  ''"''""  "''  '"•°-». 
olivaccous-gray,  with  the  same  martiT  '^  "l^'mons  are  an 
croamy-buff.     Their  form  i     ,        n"*' '  ""'^  ""'"'^  are  a 

-i.™- cliu,cnsions  average  lb':."    6 "l/l -^lincr''""''  """ 
llHs  species  is  very  irreo-ul-u-  f,.  .7  ' 

■-..«•  n.avofot.Lti^t;;;;;rrtf!'r-? 


M 


548 


OUNITIIOLOOY   AND   OOLOGY. 


May,  and  as  late  as  the  12th  of  July.  I  liavc  scon,  in  the 
8i)ace  of  a  square  rod,  eggs,  in  which  the  chicks  were  about 
ready  to  break  tlie  shell,  and  others  that  were  ai)parently 
but  just  laid ;  and,  close  beside  them  both,  were  squatting 
young  birds  almost  fully  grown  and  feathered. 

About  the  15th  of  June  is  +he  period  when  the  eggs  of 
this  species  are  in  the  best  condition  in  New  J]ngland  for 
cabinet  preservation ;  the  young  thou  being,  as  a  general 
thing,  scarcely  formed. 

Early  in  October,  these  birds  begin  to  be  scarce  in  our 
latitude,  and  they  spend  the  winter  on  the  shores  of  the 
southern  gulf. 

STERNA  MACROUEA.  — iVaumarm. 
The  Arctic  Tern. 

Sterna  macrmtra,  Naumann.    Isis  (1819,  1847). 

Sterna  Arctica,  Tcmm.  Man.  d'On,.,  II.  (1820)  742.  Bon.  Syn.  (1828),  No. 
287.  Sw.  and  Hicli.  V.  B.  A.,  II.  (1831)  414.  Nutt.  Man.,  II.  (1834)275.  Aud. 
Orn.  IJiog.,  III.  (1635)  366.     Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1844)  107. 

DKSC'ltirTION. 

A'lult  -Upper  part  of  the  head  and  hind  neck  black;  back  and  wings  lisht 
gravi«h-bhie;  lirst  primary  deep-black  on  the  outer  web,  dusky-gray  on  the  inner 
next  the  shall,  and  over  tlie  entire  web  at  the  end,  inner  margin  ofiimerweb  wiiite; 
the  next  live  primaries  are  bluish-gray  on  the  outer  web  and  on  the  nmer  wel)  next 
the  shaft,  this  color  extending  over  the  entire  web  at  the  end,  where  it  is  l)laekish- 
L'rav  on  the  inner  margin,  the  remaining  part  of  inner  web  white;  central  tail 
feathers  and  inner  webs  of  the  others  white,  the  outer  web  of  the  outer  tail  featlior 
blaekish-giav.  the  outer  wtbs  of  the  two  next  pale  bluish-gray;  rump,  sides  ot  the 
head,  and  under  tail  coverts,  white;  under  plumage  l)luish-gray,  of  a  lighter  shade 
than 'the  back;  bill  deep-carmine;  iris  brown;  legs  and  feet  dark -crimson. 

Length,  fourteen  and  a  half  inches;  wing,  ten  and  a  half;  tail,  six  and  a  half 

inches. 

7A.6,  —  Coast  of  the  New-England  States  to  Arctic  seas;  fur  countries. 

This  species  is  almost,  if  not  equally,  as  abundant  on  our 
shores  in  summer  as  the  preceding.  It  breeds,  in  our  lati- 
tude, in  the  same  localities  and  at  the  same  time  as  the 
other ;  and  its  eggs  are  so  exactly  similar,  that  any  descrip- 
tion of  either  is  impossible,  by  which  they  can  be  identified. 
The  only  method  that  I  know  of  to  obtain  authentic  speci- 
mens of  each  is,  either  to  visit  localities  in  which  either 


It's 


lllfc  J  f jAa 


It'    ^ 
Kit  it' 


THE  LEAST  TERN. 


649 


9 ;  fur  countries. 


their  eggs  after  being  di-iveii 
from  tliein  :  l)ut  this  is  gciiorully 
coiifuied  to  the  close  of  tlie  sea- 
son of  incubation,  or  very  dark 

or  wet  weather;  and  the  student, 

to  avail  liiniself  of  it,  must  be 

on  the  spot  at  the  proper  time. 

The  moment  a  person  a])proacli- 

es  one  of  tlieir  breeding  phices, 

thewliole  colony  leave  their  eggs' 

or  young,  and  fly  to  meet  the 

intruder.      I  have  been  on  an  . 

island  of  not  more  tlian  thirty 

acres  area,  where  thousands  of  ,.=..=,^-=- 

these  birds  of  both  species,  and  also  the  following   were 
breeding ;  and  their  cries,  W  'W  '/.•.,  were  so  loud    I 

ny  companions  within  twentyfeet  of  me  had  to    1. 
their  loudest  to  make  tinir  words  intelligible. 

Ihe  Arctic  Tern,  like  all  the  others,  leaves  its  e-o-s  in 
warm  sunny  days  for  several  hours,  depending  on  the  su 
to  assist  in  incubation.     When  one  bird  is  shot,  the  othe 
instead  o    flying  off,  only  redouble  their  outc  i       d         J 

own  at  the  intruder  within  a  few  feet  of  his  head ;'  ^ 

noise  and  confusion  are  so  great,  that  one  is  almost  bew 
dered,  and  can  hardly  keep  his  wits  about  him  suffici.    t  y 
to  secure  and  properly  identify  his  specimens  ^ 


lii 


STEENA  FEENATA.-(7«m6e?. 
The  Least  Tern, 

i*f<ernrt  m/n«<a,  Wilson.    Am.  Orn    VIF  nsn^  sn      k    a  r^      ^. 
175.    lb.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1844)  m  ^      ^      '    ^'"'-  ^'■"-  ^'"S'l^-  (^^38) 

Sie^-na  arymm,  Nuttull     Man.,  H.  (1834)  280. 


r>50 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


Descku'tion. 

AdiiU.  —  On  the  forohond  is  a  triangular  wliito  spot  pxtcndinff  to  the  eye;  crown, 
occiinit,  and  ii  line  t'nini  Ihi!  cyi;  to  the  upper  niandililc,  deep-lilack;  entire  npper 
plnnnif,'e  and  win},'s  cleiir  liluish-Kray ;  first  two  priuniries  with  the  outer  wel)  iiiid 
Inih'  the  inner  ni'Xt  the.  shall,  fjnivish-hlaelv,  ends  of  the  same  eulor,  inner  niiirj^'ins 
white,  the  shntlts  of  these  two  (pnllH  art!  lilaek;  thu  otliur  prininriei*  sunto  color  uh  the 
hack,  with  the  itiner  iiiar^'iiiH  white;  tail  same  color  as  the  hack,  except  the  outer 
margin  of  the  cxtwior  fentlier,  and  the  inner  wehs  of  the  others  at  the  haw,  nliere 
they  are  white;  entire  inider  phnna-je  silvery-white;  bill  jmle  ormigo-yellow;  iris 
hazel;   legs  and  teet  light  orunpi-red. 

Length,  I'ight  and  three-(iuurters  inches;  wing,  six  and  threo-quurtcrs ;  tail,  three 
and  a  half  inches. 

Jjub.  —  Texas  to  Labrador;  western  rivers. 

This  handaomo  littlo  bird  is  of  similar  habits,  and  is 
ahnost  as  abundant  as  tlic  preceding.  It  l)roc(ls  in  tlic  sanio 
lucalitios,  and,  like  the  others,  nests  on  tlie  beacli  or  bare 
rocks.  Tlie  eggs  are  tlu'ce  in  number.  They  are  a  rounded 
ovoidal  in  form,  and  a  grayish-cream  tint  in  cohjr :  tliey  aro 
marked  with  spots  and  coniiiicnt  l)lotelics  of  difttjront  shades 
of  brown  and  obscure-lilac,  and  vary  in  dimensions  from 
l.'i;')  by  .90  inch  to  1.15  by  .91  ineli.  A  largo  numl)er  of 
specimens  from  both  the  Southern  and  Xtjrthern  States 
exhibit  no  appreciable  diirerenco  cither  in  size  or  markings. 


|t 


IIYDROCIIKLIDOX,  Don:. 

Ihjih-orliiVKhn,  TlfilE,  Isis  (1^22),  503. 

l!il!  rather  short,  strong,  the  iipiier  mnndihlc  curving  slightly  to  the  tip;  nostrils 
basal,  lateral,  and  limgitudinal,  the  frontal  feathers  reaching  nearly  to  the  (jpeniiii;; 
wings  very  long  and  iHiinted;  tail  moderate  and  eniarginate;  legs  short;  the  ante- 
rior toes  slender,  with  the  webs  deeply  indented;  hind  too  small;  claws  slender  and 
acute. 

HYDEOCHELIDON  PLUMBEA.  —  Wihon. 

The  Short-tailed  Tern. 

Stcitia phtmbea,  AVilson.    Am.  Orn.,  YI[.  (1H13)  8,3. 

atcnm  nlijnr,  Nnttall.  Man.,  H.  (1>>34)  2,s2.  Aud.  Orn.  Diog.,  IIL  (lS3a)  535; 
V.  (1S39)  642.    Jb.,  Birds  Am.,  VH.  (1844)  116. 

DESCKII'TION. 

Aihilt.  —  Head,  neck,  breast,  sides,  and  abdomen, black;  lower  tail  coverts  while; 
under  covering  of  wings  ashy-gray;  back  aud  wings  dark  plumbeous-gray;  ilie 


THE   SHORT-TAILED   TERN. 


661 


lirco-quurters ;  tail,  three 


1.  Biog.,  III.  (1S3S)  635; 


-.  *,r,r;;:rr-ro',:;':'.  ',';;ii';r" -"Lt  i ' "» "■■«  *■• 

feet  rt.,l,li«h-l,n.»v,..  '       '  '"^"""'••^''->'l"'^k !  iris  brown;  1««h  un.l 

i.u..!r"' '^  "'"^  ^  ""'^ '-"-  ^'"K.  ^i«'.t  «i  u  ..;;;;;■,,  „..  „.., « ... 

TJiiH  species  is  included  o.i  tlio  above  autlioritv      Wii 
describes  its  habits  as  follows :  -  ^'     ^^  '^'°" 

"I  cxaniin,.,!  upwards  of  thirty  individ.rils  of  .1.;.  •      t. 

<li-ection,  and  found  both  soxc.  ah^ko  h      t-      '  'T'"  ^ 

contained  grasshoppers,  eriekets,  spid  r^   ^      i.„/   :;r'"?f '^ 
people  ott  the  seaeoast  infonn  tne  '  that  thVs   hi  '     .^''' 

only  in  the  fall,  or  towards  the  en  1  o^  s      u.      ' ,  T""        ''^ 
quently  seeu  about  the  n.ill-ponds  ad  f  '  ''  "'"'"'^  ^'''- 

fr  :>:  '"^  "'7':  -- -^^^^'"'^  ..ir™  :;■";;:'; 

Au,lul,o,i  describes  the  I,i,,I  as  placing  it,  „ost  on  tl,o  ton 
01  a  ,..,  cen  tussock  of  t,l,o  rankest  g.-asse:,  of  wl,i„    .   fi.  Ho 

"■cnes  t  nek      It  ,,  enlarged  oi-  roncvvod  every  yea,,  son.e 
"OS  s  ,,en,s   ound  to  be  f..„n.  four  ,0  six  inebcsT  be      t 
ggs  laul  early  in  Jnne,  are  fo,,,.  i„  ,„„„,,„,,  ,"^;\ 
"cb  , ,  dnuens,ous,  and  arc  of  nearly  an  ellinti  al  forn, 

::?•  ;;i:Xtr;;'''"'',  ■",  r ""  ■  '"«"•  ~™f- 

(,  comsb.l,un,  spotted  and  dashed  «itl,  roddisl,.„mbef  and 
black,  more  abundantly  towards  the  middle. 


'Hill 


^2 


ORNITHOLOOY   AND   OOLOOY. 


SUB-ORDER  OAVIiE.i 


Family  PROCELLARID.T:.    The  Pktiikls. 

Hill  more  or  less  lenKthentd,  coiiipresHed,  niid  deeply  Rrnovcd,  nppenririK  to  lie 
foriiii'd  of  jifvcriil  distinct  parl.x;  the  tip  is  stnui^,',  iniicli  liiHikcd,  and  mute;  the  nos- 
trils (ipcn  t'riini  distinit  tubes,  either  sinf,'le  or  doulilc,  und  are  .situated  at  the  l)i,se  ef 
tiu^  upper  nuiuililiie. 

All  the  liirds  enilmieed  in  this  (iiniily  are  strictly  oceiinie,  some  of  the  snialliT 
species  only  heliif?  observed  in  bays  near  the  ocean  diirinj;  or  atk'r  a  storm.  They 
vary  greatly  in  size,  sonu^  being  (piit(^  diminutive,  while  others  are  e(|ual  in  dimen- 
sions to  the  largest  known  birds  of  (light. 

Two  sub-families,  luMuely,  Diiiiiii'iUinn!  and  PriirvlliiriTue,  constitute  this  fumilv, 
the  distinguishing  characters  of  which  are  as  follows  :  — 

DioMEDKiN.K.  —  IJill  very  strong,  curved,  and  acute  at  the  end;  nostrils  short, 
tubular,  and  situated  on  the  sides  of  the  upper  mandible  near  the  base. 

l'liu<Ki,l..\itlN.i;.  —  Hill  more  or  less  strong,  curved  at  the  end,  and  pointed; 
nostrils  tubular,  situated  on  the  culmen,  near  the  base,  and  opening  forwards. 


Sub-Family  Pkocellaiun^..     The  True  Petrels. 

The  bill  more  or  less  strong,  compressed,  tip  much  hooked  and  pointed;  the  nos- 
trils tubular,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  and  sitiuited  on  the  basal  part  of  the  culmen; 
generally  of  medium  or  small  size,  wandering  in  their  habits,  and  capable  of  sus- 
taining themselves  on  wing  for  a  great  length  of  time. 


THALASSIDROMA,  ViGoits. 

Tlialamiir/romn,  Vigors,  Zool.  Jour.  (1825). 

IJill  shorter  than  the  head,  slender  and  weak,  the  tip  curved  and  acute,  the  sides 
compressed  and  moderately  grooved;  nostrils  at  the  base  of  the  culincn  tuliiiiiii- 
and  iironiiuent;  wings  long  and  narrow,  the  .second  quill  longest;  tail  forked  or 
enuirginate;  leg.s  slender  and  very  long;  tibia  bare  for  a  considerable  space;  ante- 
rior toes  rather  short  and  slender,  united  by  an  indented  web;  a  short  spur  in  iilace 
of  the  hind  too. 

THALASSIDEOMA    LEACHII.  —  Bonaparte. 
Leach's  Petrel. 


Procellarta  Leachii,  Tcmm.    Man.,  II.  (1820)  812. 
Tlmlassidnmm  Leachii,  Xuttall.    Man.,  II.  (1834)  326. 
(1835)  434.     lb.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1844)  219. 


Aud.  Om.  Biog.,  III. 


1  See  Introduction. 


constitutti  this  fuiiiilv, 


\.ud.  Orn.  Biog.,  III. 


WILSON'S  STORMY  PETREL.  gr^g 

T,.         ,  I>KHritII.TIO!». 

.  ^"'^.'r'- ^-^  «i..K ....;.,,  «„n: ::,::;;;"  "T """"'  ''^'"''^"'"  -" »«" 

"-  .""l-s  a.lj.,i„i„«  it,  ana  outer  lower  .  lUoV  ^     X  "''  -uT:  ■ ' '  "■"""'•  '""""-  "^ 
tarsi  nn.l  Crt  l,|,„.k.  '"'"'"'• "'''"«!  l>ill  I'lack  (  iris  ,lark-l,rowu  • 

'..*""i:::,':',,::;i'.""  "'"«■ » "■«■  •  '->'■.  <-' .'..  m,  ,„.„„„,  „,„„ 

J-     ..  lact,  tho  o„l,-  „„o  that  broci,  l.cro  •  „    |  Im    .,      ' 

June,  1,  tliolii(itu,|..„fil„. ;  i     i  '""'  ''""k  in 

of  Muino,  it  p„         ]„::'"  ""  "'" .":""'-™«'  ■•"  co«»t 

snmll  |,c.|,l,l«,,  wl,id,  a,.„'  amu,...,!  i^a  /V  T'""'-'"'  "'"' 

end  "!■  a  burrow  co„.,t,„ctocI  i,y  |o  bL  '  "".'",'"■''■•."'  "'» 
"..cl  crevice,  „f  r,.ck,  „„  „,„  is[,    |,^,  ""'  "'' '"    '"-■  "«»'"'^» 

I.,  tins  a  „i,„io  0,,  i»  c.,,;„;   ',,;";::;"■"■■■"  --»• 

color,  will,  an  o\,.anv  lilac  ri„..  ■, , ,     I  I""'"-"''"'" 

of  n„o  conllucnt  do(».      I     !  ! '      "  ""?'."''  ^o""'"*"'!-' 

Icgtb,  and  I'ron,  1  inci,  to  .HO  inel,  in  I  roadt,,  ^±  ""''  '"  ' 
soon  lioconio  discolored  and  dirtv  n„       ,  ^''""""W 

..est  and  thcl,abit>,„f,|,„    L    1^;  '"":  "'"  ""*'"■"  "f  ".« 
-Lite.    Tl,„ir  Kb  0       :  ; fi.:''f '"''''^  "'^■^'  "'■"  '""■"■ 

THALASSIDEOMA  WILSONII.  -  Bonaparte. 
Wilson's  Stormy  Petrel. 
Procellanapela„;ra,  Wilson.    An,.  Orn.,  VII.  (180«)  .n 

Oc.a,«Vc.  mkonii,  Bonaparte.    Con..  Av.  II.  (,855)  ,99. 


liBit 


554 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Description. 

The  general  color  of  the  plumage  is  dark  sooty-brown;  primaries  and  tail  Llack- 
ish-brown,  tlie  hitter  wliite  at  the  base;  some  of  the  outer  secondaries  and  the 
f.econdary  coverts  grayish-asii,  ending  witli  grayish-white;  rump,  sides  of  the  abdo- 
men and  exterior  lower  tail  coverts,  white;  bill  black;  iris  dark-brown;  tarsi  and 
(eet  black,  with  the  webs  yellow  except  at  the  margin. 

This  species  is  somewhat  smaller  than  T.  Lenckli,  and  more  ilelicate  in  form ;  the 
bill  is  much  weaker:  it  may  readily  be  distinguished  by  the  ^reater  proportion  of 
white  on  the  under  tail  coverts  and  on  the  sides  at  the  base  of  the  tail,  together  with 
its  much  longer  tarsi  and  yellow  webs;  tail  nearly  even. 

Length,  seven  and  one-fourth  inches;  wing,  six;  tail,  three-quarters;  bill,  seven- 
twelfths  inch;  tarsus,  one  and  three-eighths  inch. 

llab.  —  Ofl'  the  Atlantic  coast  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  to  Baffin's  Bay. 

This  species  is  rare  on  our  coast,  and,  to  my  knowledge, 
does  not  breed  within  the  limits  of  New-England  shores. 
Audubon  says, — 

'-  Wilson's  Petrel  breeds  on  some  small  iskn;!:;  situated  off  the 
southern  extremity  of  Nora  Scotia,  called  '  Mud  Islands,'  but  wliich 
are  formed  of  sand  and  light  earth,  scantily  covered  with  grass. 

Thither  the  birds  re- 
sort in  great  ininibtrs 
about  the  befflnnino;  of 
June,  and  form  bur- 
rows of  the  d('pth  of 
two  or  two  and  a  half 
feet,  in  the  bottom  of 
which  is  laid  a  sinale 
white  egg ;  a  few  bits 
of  dry  grass,  scarcely 
deserving  the  name  of 
fi  nest,  liaving  been  placed  for  its  reception.  The  egg  measures  an 
inch  and  a  half  m  length  by  seveu-eighths  of  an  inch  in  breadth  ; 
is  almost  equally  rounded  at  both  ends.  ...  On  wing,  this 
species  is  more  lively  than  the  Forked-tailed,  but  less  so  than  the 
common  Stormy  Petrel.  Its  notes  are  different  from  that  of  the 
Forked-tailed  Petrel,  and  resemble  the  syll;d>les  hee-re-he-hee. 
They  are  more  frequently  emitted  at  night  Ihau  by  day." 


THE  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER. 


555 


my  knowledge, 


Family  COLYMBIDiE.    The  Divers. 

bo.ly.  ""'^'"^  ^"l'^'  '^'"^vs  broad,  depressed,  buried  in  the 

lores  feathe.ed.  "'"pressed,  toes  long  and  webs  full;  tail  short; 

broad,,  lobed;  tail  wLtin.^r  vJ^  J^JiZr;,  ^3^^"  *°^^  '^^  "'"^ 

Sub-Family  CoLYJium.E.-  ^/.^  Zoo«s. 

quill  the  longest,  reachin/far  by;.;    h        Z  .T  t'^  r"""'  '•"'  ''"'■"^"•-  ^^^ 
very  n.uch  eon.pressed;  entire    arsi  a    1  b  il   V  ','  "'"'  '■'"""'''^*'  ^"^^ 

anterioronesunitedbvroffularwebs  fhrV      .1      ''  '•'^"^•"'»f'-'<l;  toes  long,  the 
hind  toe  short,  edged  ^it. 'I  tlJow  ;:tbn;7'    "  ""''"^  '^^^^^  '^^  ^^^  ^  "^-^^ 

Ihese  birds  excel  all  others  in  their  vmuiL.  ^e  i-  • 
they  are  able  to  :uake  under  water     OnlJ '1        '  "'^'  ""'^  *'"^  f^"-""'  progress 

by  authors.  "'"•    ^"'^  °"«  fe^«»''«  "'  tbis  sub-family  is  recognized 

COLYMBUS,  LiNN.Eus. 
Cohjmhus,  LiNN^us,  Svst.  Nat  (1735)     (t        r 

«ea":?;::;:S2;::fnr  t,::^.:;S';T'7--^ "-— ">  «„  ti. 

tary  in  their  habits,  kcen-si  *Ln  .  i       '       -^  ,    "  ""  ^""'''-    ''"''^".'*' ""-e  soli- 
Btrong,  rapid,  and  direct       ''        '    "^  '"^  "'^"="  ''  ''^■-''"^•b:  thei;  flight  is 

•  COLYMBUS  TOR^UATDS.  -  Briinnich. 

The  Great  Northern  Diver;  the  Loon. 

Coh/mbvs  „/actal!s,  Unnxm.    Svst.  Vat     I    ^?fifi^  00,      ,,.., 
(1824)  H.    Nutt.  Man.,  II.  (1834)  513     Au^  n  ^    n^  ^^^'    ^^ ""•  ^^t"'  0'"-  IX. 
Am.,  VII.  (1844)  282.  ^''^'^ ''^-    ^"d.  Om.  B.og.,  IV.  (1838)  43.    74.,  Birds 


i 


Mi 

'     ■    "  lit. 


656 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


ni 


Description. 

Bill  compressed,  strong  and  tapering,  outline  of  upper  mandible  nearly  straight, 
very  slightly  curved ;  the  lower  mandible  has  a  groove  underneath,  running  from 
the  junction  of  the  crura  towards  the  point;  the  tail  consists  of  twenty  feathers. 

Adult.  —  The  head  and  neck  arc  dark  bluish-green,  the  upper  part  and  sides  of 
the  head  glossed  with  purple ;  there  is  a  small  transverse  mark  on  the  throat,  com- 
posed of  white  feathers  of  a  quill-like  form,  distinct  from  each  other,  and  placed  lon- 
gitudinally on  each  side  of  the  neck;  lower  down  are  larger  patches  of  white,  of  the 
same  peculiar  form,  and  running  in  the  same  direction;  these  almost  meet  behind, 
and  in  front  are  about  one  inch  apart;  the  etl'ect  of  these  pure-white  feathers,  re- 
lieved by  the  dark  color  of  the  neck,  is  very  beautiful;  the  up|)er  plumage  and  wing 
coverts  are  deep  glossy-black,  beautifully  marked  with  pure-white  spots,  placed  in 
regular  transverse  rows,  slightly  curving  downwards;  these  spots,  on  the  up])er  ])art 
of  the  back,  are  small  and  nearly  round,  but,  as  they  descend  lower  on  the  back, 
increase  in  size,  and  become  quadrangular  in  form,  being  largest  on  the  scapularies; 
on  the  lower  part  of  the  back,  upper  tail  coverts,  and  sides  (which  are  black),  the 
spots  are  small  and  round;  the  sides  of  the  neck,  near  the  shoulder,  are  beautifully 
lineated  with  black  and  white;  the  primaries,  secondaries,  and  tail,  brownish-black; 
the  under  surface  glossy-white,  with  a  narrow  band  of  dusky  feathers  crossing  the 
lower  part  of  the  abdomen,  and  marked  with  snsall  white  spots;  lower  tail  coverts 
blackish-brown,  tipped  with  white;  bill  black;  iris  deep  bright-red;  tarsi  and  feet 
grayish-blue  externally,  tinged  on  the  inside  with  pale-yellowish  red ;  webs  brownish- 
black;  claws  black. 

Youn;/.  —  The  yjlumage  above  is  grayish-black,  the  feathers  of  the  back  mar- 
gined with  grayish-white,  the  under  plumage  pure-white;  bill  yellowish,  with  the 
ridge  of  the  upper  mandible  dusky. 

Length,  thirtyKine  inches;  wing,  fourteen;  tarsus,  three  and  a  quarter;  bill, 
three;  height  at  base,  one  inch. 

Ilab.  —  Very  generally  distributed;  it  is  abundant  on  the  Atlantic  coast,  in  the 
lakes  of  the  interior,  ind  the  fhr  countries. 

THE  Great  Loon  is  a  ratlicr  common  species  on  onr  coast 
in  the  autumn  and  winter.  It  passes  the  season  of  re- 
production in  tlie  neighborhood  of  large  tracts  and  ponds  of 
fresh  water  in  the  interior,  wliere  it  nests,  about  tlie  middle 
of  June,  on  some  low  island,  or  in  meadows,  bordering  the 
lakes  where  it  collects  a  large  pile  of  grasses,  sods,  and 
weeds,  in  which  it  forms  a  hollow  of  from  fourteen  to  six- 
teen inches  in  diameter,  and  four  or  five  in  depth  ;  lining  it 
with  a  few  softer  grasses  and  pieces  of  moss,  if  sucli  are 
obtainable.  The  eggs  are  two  or  three  in  munber.  They 
vary  in  shape  from  almost  exactly  oval,  usually  about  ovate 
and  occasionally  very  much  lengthened,  as  will  be  seen  by 
the  following  dimensions  of  four  specimens  from  different 


'Jl  ■* 


THE  RED-THROATED   DIVER. 


657 


locaht.es  n  Ma.ne :  3  67  by  2.35,  3.85  by '2.15,  3.50  by 
2.20,  3.O0  by  2.25  inches.  Their  color  is  au  olivaceous- 
biou  .  some  imes  an  ohvaceous-drab ;  and  one  specimen  is 
of  a  reddish-brown,  with  but  a  slight  olivaceous  iint.     This 

few  larger  blotches  of  blackish  or  very  dark-brown.  The 
Lmbagog  Lakes,  in  Maine,  are  a  favorite  breeding  locality 
of  Ins  species ;  and  sometimes  several  pairs  may  be  found 
-thm  a  hundred  rods  of  each  other,  engaged  i/the  duties 
omcnba  tion.  When  the  nest  is  approadied,  the  sitt  g 
bi  d  silently  leaves  it ;  and,  gliding  througli  the  grass,  drop^ 
into  he  water;  and,  diving,  swims  belo^  the  ^irface  o  I 
considerable  distance  from  the  shore,  where,  appearing 
above  It,  she  attentively  watches  the  intruder 

The  nest  is  built  only  a  short  distance  from  the  water, 
and  IS  approached  in  diiferent  directions  by  paths  through 
the  grass,  beaten  by  the  birds,  or  sometimes  by  muskrats 
ni  their  approaches  to  their  winter  homes.  I  once  heard  of 
one  of  these  Loons  forming  its  nest  in  the  top  of  an  aban- 
doned muskrat's  nest,  and  of  another  that  placed  it  in  the 

o7ea  tb        T7  "'  "  '''''■    ^"""^' '' ''  '•"''^  '^'  the  mud 
01  eaith,  in  thick  grass  or  weeds. 


■if 

III! 


es,  sods,  and 


COLYMBDS    SEPTENTKIONALIS.-Z/,»w.„,. 
The  Eed-throated  Diver. 

(1B38)  20;  V.  (1830)  025.     h.,  liin.s  .W;  VII   \IIZ\  ^S"    ^"''-  ^^^  ^'''^•'  "^^ 

Descriition. 

.K.ck  is  a  lar,.e  Io„,ntu.linal  patch  o'tpri.'lZ;  "'"'  °"  '  "  ''"'^"^  "'  *"« 
black,  RliKlulv  tinsel  with  LJ  °'  '^'P  ^'''•■••^''-'''•o^*'";  "PPer  plumage  brownish- 

and  .'ides'  of'the  teck    t  ca  "^^  'Z'  T  "'  ""  '""^  ''"  '°'^'^^  P"' 

black;  under  pl„,„age  pu    'v  1  u^,?         7  V  '''''^'  ""''  '"''  '^'•«"-"'''''- 

and  feet  brownish-black  externa  Iv  on    I  '        ,         '"^  "''' '  "•'«  bright-red ;  tarsi 
at  the  base,  dusky  at  the  eld      '  '  "'  '"'  "''''"  '"'*'  '«^"-^°'''''  '^'-^^  ^^'l-'^h 


1:^ 


II,:      •  I 
III 


;!'! 


liiH:  I 


558 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


Ymng.-Lpj^r  part  of  the  head  andhind-neck  dull-grny,  streaked  with  m-avish- 
wh.te;  back  and  wings  blucki«h-gray,  profusely  marked  with  oval-shaped  white 
spots  there  being  two  on  each  feather,  smallest  on  the  upper  part  of  the  back  and 
largest  on  the  tertiaries,  quill  feathers  and  tail  blackish-brown.  the  latter  ed^^. 
w.  h.vh,te;  sulesof  the  neck  white,  speckled  minutely  with  grav;  under  plum!;™ 
Hlky-wh,  te,  crossed  on  the  lower  part  of  the  abdomen  by  a  duskv  band;  bi  1  bluish- 
gray,  dusky  on  the  ridge  and  flesh-colored  at  the  base. 

Length,  twenty-seven  inches ;  wing,  eleven  an.i  a  half;  tail,  two  and  a  half-  bill 
two  and  a  quarter;  tarsus,  two  and  three-quarters  inches.  ' 

Ilab.  -During  the  winters  as  far  south  as  Maryland;  inhabits  as  far  north  as  the 
arctic  seas ;  found  also  on  the  Pacific  coast. 

This  bird,  altliougli  pretty  common  on  our  coast  during 
the  winter,  is  much  more  nortliern  in  its  breeding  habits 
than  the  Loon  ;  seldom  passing  the  season  of  incubation 
south  of  Labrador,  wliere  it  begins  to  lay  early  in  June. 
The  nests  are  placed  on  small  islands  in  fresh-water  ponds" 
a  short  distance  from  the  sea.    "  These  nests  consist  merely 
of  a  few  blades  of  rank  grasses  loosely  put  together,  and 
are  quite  flat,  withont  any  down  to  warm  or  conceal  the 
eggs  at  any  period  of  incubation."     They  are  placed  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  water,  and  are  approached  by  well-beaten 
paths,  like  those  of  the  preceding.     The  offgs  are  usually 
three   in   number.      They  exactly  resemble   those   of  the 
Loon  in  form,  color,  and  markings,  but  are  mnch  smaller  • 
varying  from  3  to  2.65  inches  in  length,  and  from  1.90 
to  1.75  inch  in  breadth. 


Sub-Family  Podicipin^.—  T/ie   Grebes. 

Bill  generally  long,  compressed  on  the  sides,  and  pointed;  lores  nsuallv  naked- 
nostrds  p  aced  in  a  groove,  oblong  and  narrow.  Wings  short,  the  sec;nd  nnili 
longest,  shorter  than  the  scapulars;  the  tail  is  represented  by  a  tuft  of  downy  felth- 
ers;  tars,  much  compressed  and  rather  short;  toes  long,  the  outer  longest,  broadiv 
and  evenly  lobed,  most  so  on  the  inner  side;  claws  short,  broad,  and  obtuse;  tarii 
wth  plates  on  the  s.des,  m  front  with  a  single,  behind  with  a  double,  longitudinal 
series  of  projecting  scales;  toes  and  their  lobes  plated  above. 

The  plumage  is  very  sofl,  and  on  the  under  surface  silkv:  they  are  remarkablv 
active^^on  the  water,  and  when  alarmed  remain  below  th;  surface,  exposing  only 


THE  RED-NECKED   GREBE. 


559 


PODICEPS,  Latham. 

Po<!lceps  Latham  I„d.Ornith.  (1790),  780.    (Type  Colyrnbus  crlstatus,  L.) 
15.11  lonK,  slender,  taper.nfer,  and  pointed;  nostrils  situated  in  a  groove     mall 
Lnear  andpervous,  wingB  short  and  narrow,  second  primary  a  little  tlonr' 
emarg,„„te  near  the  ends,  tail  a  tu.t  of  loose  feathers,  tarsi  siLt,  .nnch'lirS' 
he  edges  eovered  with  small  scutelhe,  and  the  sides  with  broad  transverse  sen  ell^ 

:;:  ::t:iT  '""ff; «"»:-"- -'^^  the  sides  iohed,the  n,ostonu;;  :; 

These  birds  n.ostly  freqnent  the  fresh-water  rivers  and  interior  lakes ;  bnt  they  are 

wm,     '"^"r      '  "r""'-    '^'"^'  '''  '-'^y  "^^P"'  ---"«-.  l^"t  make  pZre 
1  great  dWficulty  on  land ,  their  flight  is  rapid  and  direct.    In   I.e  breeding   ear 

—li™"::"'^""^  ""^  ^'^-'^^  ^"^^-^'^'^  disappear wLn^ 


PODICEPS    GEISEIGENA.-Gmi,. 
The  Eed-neeked  Grebe. 

617'^"f  (T~""^  v''"";"-  ^^''^^  '•^'-    ^"'^-  0™-  «-»-.  "I-  (^835) 

01^  V.  (Ibd'J)  520.    /o.,  Birds  Am.,  VIL  (1844)  312. 

DEscnii'Tiox. 

^,/«// -Upper  plumage  blacki.h-brown,  with  the  upper  part  of  the  head  and 
hmd-neek  black ;  primaries  ashy-brown,  secondaries  mostly  wl.ite,  a  few  of  he  „"er 
on  s  dark-ash,  chocks  and  throat  ash-gray,  a  white  line  extends  from  the  low 
n     d.ble  under  and  beyond  the  eye,  forepart  and  sides  of  the  neck  rich  brow,"  1  - 
-cd    lower  parts  sdvery-wlute,  whh  the  sides  dusky,  bill  black,  paler  at  the  end 

Yuunr,.  The  upper  plumage  is  blackish-brown,  darker  on  the  head;  throat  and 
abdomen  wh.tc,  s  des  of  the  head  and  forepart  of  neck  browuish-asl  ,  abdomen 
Bdky-white ;  sides  dark  brownish-ash ;  bill  bright-vdlow 

two'inches."'"'  "'"'""  '"'""'  ^^■'"^' ^«^-^-" '  i^"'- one  and  three-quarters ,  tarsi, 
winter*"  '~^'"'' '"""'"''  ""'^ '"  ""  ^*''"'*''  ^^"*'''  "'  ^""^  '°"^''  "'  Pennsylvania,  in 

The  Red-necked  Grebe  is  common  on  onr  coast  in  winter 
wlicre  it  is  commonly  called  "  The  Diver,"  from  its  habit  of 
dmn-  at  tlie  flash  of  a  gun.  It  feeds,  like  all  other  birds 
of  this  family,  on  small  fishes  and  marine  animals,  which  it 
obtains  b-  -living;  and  such  is  its  expertness  and  powers 
of  enduraaj.  '.n  this  respect,  that  I  have  known  it  to  remain 
certainly  a  minute  beneath  the  surface,  if  not  longer.     It  is 


i', 


560 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


shy,  and  difficult  of  approach;  and,  when  apprehending 
danger,  it  immerses  its  body,  and  swims  witli  nothing  bnt 
its  head  above  the  surface.  This  trick  I  liave  noticed  in 
other  allied  species;  and  it  is,  I  think,  common  in  all  birds 
of  this  class.  It  breeds  in  the  most  northern  portions  of 
the  continent,  where  it  forms  the  same  kind  of  nest  «  as 
that  of  the  Crested  Grebe,  and  lays  three  or  four  eggs." 
Audubon  describes  an  egg  in  his  possession  as  being  two 
inches  in  length  by  one  and  a  quarter  inch  in  breadth,  and 
of  a  uniform  pale  greenish-white. 

PODICEPS    CEISTATUS,— Za<Aaw. 
The  Crested  Grebe. 
Podlceps  cristatus,  Niittall.    Man.,  11.  (1834)  260.    Aud.  Orn.  Biog.,  IIL  (1835) 


595 


/*.,  Birds  Am.,  VH.  (1844)  308. 


Description. 

Adult. —Front,  upper  part  of  the  head,  and  long  occipital  tufts  dark  umber- 
brown,  the  base  of  the  tufts  brownish-red;  the  ruff  is  bright  brownish-red  on  the 
upper  portion  immediately  under  the  tufts  and  anteriorly,  on  the  hind-part  brownish- 
black  ;  upper  plumage  dark  umber-brown ;  liumeral  feathers  wliite ;  primaries  umber- 
brown;  secondaries  mostly  white;  throat  and  sides  of  the  head  white;  forepart 
and  sides  of  the  neck  adjoining  the  ruff  brownish-red ;  under  plumage  silve'rv-white; 
sides  dusky,  tinged  with  reddish-brown;  bill  blackish-brown,  tinged  with  carmine; 
bare  loral  space  dusky-green;  iris  bright-carmine;  tarsi  and  feet  greenish-black 
externally,  greenish-yellow  internally;  webs  grayish-blue. 

r(«iH(/.  —  Upper  part  of  head  dark-brown;  hind-neck  brownish-gray;  back  and 
wings  brownish-black;  humeral  feathers  white;  primaries  dark  umber-brown  on  the 
outer  webs,  paler  on  the  inner;  lower  parts  silvery-white,  sides  brown;  upper  man- 
dible brownish-black,  pale  at  the  end,  and  yellow  on  the  sides  at  the  base;  lower 
mandible  j-cllow,  with  the  sides  dusky. 

Length,  twenty-three  and  one-half  inches;  wing,  seven  and  three-quarters;  bill, 
two  and  one-sixteenth;  tarsus,  two  and  a  half  inches. 

This  is  not  uncommon  as  a  summer  resident  in  northern 
New  England ;  and,  according  to  Mr.  George  A.  Boardman, 
it  breeds  about  the  lakes  in  the  neighborhood  of  Calais 
Mo.  The  nest  is  placed  in  a  retired  spot,  in  a  swamp  or 
marsh,  near  the  water;  and  is  constructed,  according  to  Dr. 
Richardson,  of  "  a  large  quantity  of  grass,  placed  among 
the  reeds  and  carices."     The  eggs  are  generally  four  in 


THE   HORNED  GREBE. 


661 


n.  Biog.,  III.  (1835) 


iree-quarters ;  bill, 


Wrd  and  the  nature  of  fh    1  t    "n.^  ''''  ^""^^^'^  ''  *'»« 

form,  and  average  about  2  iVbT  1  48     H  '"  f  "^  "'"'^^ 

-xu  uy  1.48  mcli  ni  dimensions. 

PODICEPS    COmVTTJS.^  Latham. 
The  Horned  Grebe. 
PoJiceps  cornutua,  Nt.ttnli.     Man    ir  ck'h^  or.      . 
429;  V.  (1830)  023.    /.,  I3,a.  AmrVll.  (i^'/iS.    ^"'^-  ^™-  «-S-  "I-  (1835) 

DesC'HII'TION. 

ban^t^S^Lft  ti?r^:r  •:;;;:;:•  -r^  -^  ^■— ^ « b.a. 

tl.e  foufhers  margined  with  gray;  pnWS^^^^^^^ 

-me  of  tbe  outer  one  dark  ash,  the  fo    I  k  a "     '  """""""'-•^  '"^^'^  -'"^e 
ehestnnt-red,  sides  of  the  same  color  iZZ      t      T"'  '""■*  '>*'  "'«  'j-'^'^^t  bri-.h 
biil  .>luish-b,ack„ello.at  ..::^p     ^^  ^^rbrM;    ""'^''  "'"""'^"  ^"^^--'-^^ 
niner  circle  of  white;  tarsi  and  feet  d    T     ''"^'"■'^'"•'"•"«i  '<■'■«  carmine,  with  an 
and  on  both  edges  of  the  ta;"!.'  '''"''  '-'-^'""^"^'  'l""-y«»ow  in'ternally" 

or  f  2^^i;;;;;":s:;i;:3s5;;; :^^^^^  rr  -  "^^  ^'--  '^-- 

of  the  neck,  nearly  n.eetinr.  behind  tl    t   ,    1        ""  '  '     °'"  ''''''  ""  "'«  ■'"■''- 
lower  part  of  abdomen  du^  '    '"^  ''^"'"'"="'  ^i'very-whito;  sides  and 

Length,  about  fourteen  inches;  wine   live  nn,i  .u 
one  and  three-barters  inch.  ^'  '""^  three-quarters;  bill,  one;  tarsi 

iraL  -  Generally  distributed  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific  coast. 

Tlie  Horned  Grebe  is  not  uncommon  in  our  lako.  .  ^  " 
rivers,  and  in  tlie  waters  on  our  coast  innT  '^ 

autumn.     It  breeds  in  mn...  ,     '  ^°^'*'  "^  *''o  spring  and 

"Although  tlie  greater  number  of  these   hh,!^ 

tl  0  State  of  Oluo,  hi  tl.o  vicinity  of  Lalte  Pi-i,-     T 

wind,  I  fo„„d  wofo  placed  at  a  Ltan  "„  „f  alt  ""t 

r-o.  t„e  wate..  edge,  „,.  t,     t„p  „,  Ctt: XC£ 


k 


flliir 


662 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


of  rank  weeds;  the  materials  of  which  thoy  were  com- 
posed  of  the  same  nature,  and  rudely  interwoven  to  a 
height  of  upwards  of  seven  inches.  They  were  ratlior 
more  than  a  foot  in  diameter  at  the  base  ;  the  cavity  only 
four  inches  across,  shallow,  but  more  flnishod  with  fnior 
plants,  of  wiiich  a  quantity  lay  on  the  borders,  and  was 
probably  used  by  the  bird  to  cover  the  eggs  when  about  to 
leave  them.  There  were  five  eggs  in  one  nest,  seven  in 
the  other.     They  measured   one  inch   and   three-cpiartcrs 

in  length  by  one  inch  and  two  and  a  half  eigiiths.     Their 

shell  was  smooth,  and  of  a  uniform  yellowish-cream  color, 

without  spots  or  marks  of  any  kind." 
A  single  egg  in  my  collection,  from  Wisconsin,  is  of  an 

ovoidal  form;  measures  1,85  by  1.20  inch  in  dimensions. 

It  is  of  a  dirty-white  color,  the  sliell  being  covered  by  a 

calcareous   deposit.      On   scraping  this,  the  shell  is  of  a 

bluish-white  tint. 


PODILYMBUS,  Lesson. 


(1831),    595.      (Type    Cohjmbus  podi- 


Poilllymbus,   Lesson,   Traite    d'Ornith. 
cepa,  L.) 

Bill  shorter  than  the  head,  snout  much  compressed;  the  culmen  much  curved  to 
the  tip,  wliich  is  acute;  nostrils  situated  in  the  anterior  part  of  a  broad  groove,  oval 
and  pervious;  wings  short,  second  quill  longest,  the  outer  quills  emarginate  at  the 
end;  tail  a  tuft  of  downy  feathers;  (arsi  short,  and  very  much  compressed;  anterior 
toes  long,  flattened,  the  outer  longest,  and  broadly  margined,  the  inner  sides  the 
most,  hind  toe  short  and  moderately  lobed;  claws  small,  depressed,  oblong  and 
obtuse. 


And.  Cm.  Biog.,IIL(1835) 


PODILYMBUS  PODICEPS.—Za wence. 

The  Pied-bill  Grebe. 

Cohjiiibus  poiliceps,  Linnicus.     S.  X.  (17G6),  223. 
Poillceps  CaroUnensis,  Nuttall.    Jlan.,  II.  ( 1834)  259. 
859;  V.  (1839)  624,    lb.,  Birds  Am.,  VII.  (1844)  324. 

Description. 
.4(f«/<,— Upper  plumage  very  dark  brown;  primaries  dark-ash;  secondaries  a«h 
on  the  outer  webs,  and  white  on  the  inner;  bill  pale-blue,  dusky  on  the  ridge  of  the 
upper  mandible,  both  mandibles  crossed  with  a  broad  black  band,  including  the  nos- 
trils; cliin  and  throat  marked  with  a  conspicuous  black  patch  neariv  two  inches  in 
extent;  clieeks  and  sides  of  the  neck  brownish-gray;  lower  part  of  the  neck,  upjar 


pe    Cdtjmbus  puill- 


THE   PIED-BILL   GREDR.  ,  «« 

tinctly  b„rn.,i  nhh  !^^,,!tl2.  1""   '■"''*>'-'^^"^".  "Potfcd  and  rather  i„,Ii, 
>vlu-te,  nK.r,l..d  win.  du^k^'   p         inJ",:"  '""'  '"■  '-■'•^t  „„d  alMo„.e,   gray      ■ 

">"1^T  Mmnago  ,„o,e  silvery-win,.     ,„,!  "'  "'"  "•""^^^"•''«  '''"'k  Laud,  the 

-— .  i..uh.  the  hird.  o.  .:';;;r.;:r:LSu;;: :  t  -r  rf 

one^r;'.:7t;,;"^"^^'  -'"-  «-  -^  ^  .--,  .n.  .even.ei,h.h,  ..." 

//«A — Atlantic  States  tcnernlli'.    T„  .  ' 

Or.,.„.  '■'"""y'   T«..  „.a  N.„  M.,ic.,    c„li,b„,i.  .,„, 

state,  as  it  is  f,.c„  :^  ZXT'  'T'  '"  ""  "'-" 

rarely  fouHd.    It  is  dcsciibed  „  i  '"''''  '"  ™'T 

P-ecdi,„  «pooi„s.    1^    '  I;  7„f  ilf  ™°""' '"  """  °f '"" 
"•ith  a  calcareous  Uenosit  wM,'.!      ■         ,'""'""''  "''"  <^°™'-'«l 

a  U,.isl,-,W.i.c  -:„t    1  vZ, '  ni  e     °  ■  "°"  ''""°'""  "- 
Specimens  in  ,„y  collection  Z?,?''-'"  """^"^  °™''<'»1- 

2.17  inches  i,t  Ic^gtlt  it    «  in"    •   ','"""'  ™"»™'-«  "l-'t 
Another,  from  Wi^cot.sh,  fs  J,  I'V      'f  "■"""  ''™J"'- 

1.18  h,ch  at  its  g,.eates  '    .™Z      "^  """'  '"  '""'""'  ■■""' 


i-Biog.,in.(1835) 


664 


ORNITHOLOGY    AND  OOLOGY. 


FAMir.Y  ALCIDiE. 

■nill  witlioiit  liunolln!  nlonjj  tlio  cdf,'!-!*;  tisiinlly  sliortcr  timn  tlip  Iipnd,  romprosised, 
and  pdiiitcil;  iiiitfHor  toes  I'diiiit'ctcil  I'lilly  hy  it  toiitiiiiioiis  lucinbraiu';  liiiid  tO(! 
oth'ii  I'litircly  wantinf,';  tliu  onttT  as  larjjc  as  tlie  middlu;  tlio  claws  higluT  tliaii 
brunil;  It'Ks  iiist'rti'd  Car  l)aek;   win;;!*  uliort,  I'oiu'rtve. 

Till-  Alciilw  arc  n'a<lily  distiiiRuislicd  tVcmi  the  C'olymh'tilm  by  the  nl)8enco  nl'  liind 
toe,  the  ('(mtiniioiis  wcbbiii;?  of  the  tiics,  tlif  (•(iinpn'sst'd  ilaws,  and  otlicr  cluinicters. 
The  species  are  all  exclusively  marine,  usually  aretie,  only  eoniiiij^'  southward  in 
winter.  Owinj;  to  their  boreal  residence,  they  are  little  known;  and  suverul  species 
doubtless  yet  reuiuin  to  bo  discovered. 


Sub-Fumili/  Ar.ciN^E. — The  Auh. 
I  ALCA,  LiNN.EUs. 

Ali'n,  I,iNN.ix's,  Syst.  Nat.  (1758). 

General  Conn  short,  broad,  and  strong;;  wings  short;  tail  short;  bill  about  as 
long  as  the  head,  feathered  at  base,  much  flattened  laterally,  wider,  and  somewhat 
liooked  at  tlie  end;  upper  mandible  with  obliiiue  transverse  f;rooves;  -,vings  short 
and  feeble;  tail  short,  pointed;  legs  and  feet  short  and  strong;  toes  fully  webbed. 


f  I 


ALCA   HORBA.  —  Linnaus. 

The  Razor-billed  Auk. 

Alca  tarda,  Linnseus.  Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1758)  130.  Aud.  Cm.  Biog.,  HI.  (1835) 
112;  V.  428. 

Descihition. 

Much  smaller  than  the  preceding;  general  form  short  and  heavy;  bill  rather 
long,  densely  feathered  at  base,  flattened  latendly ;  ui)per  mandible  with  three  to  live 
curve<!  transverse  grooves;  under  mandible  with  tlireo  or  four  transverse  gmoves; 
feathers  on  side  of  U|)per  jaw  reaching  tar  beyond  the  middle  of  the  eouiuiissurc,  and 
nearly  as  far  as  those  of  the  lower  jaw;  wing  moderate,  pointed;  tail  siiort,  gradu- 
ated, with  the  middle  feathers  longest  and  pointed;  legs  short,  strong;  a  narrow 
but  verv  distinct  line  of  white  on  each  side  from  the  base  of  the  upper  niandilde  to 
the  eve;  bead  and  entire  np])er  jiarts  brownisli-blaek,  more  clearly  brown  on  tlic 
throat  and  neck  in  front,  and  darker  on  the  back;  secondary  ([uiils  narrowly  tippeil 
•with  white;  entire  under  parts  white;  bill  black,  with  a  single  transverse  band  of 
■white  on  both  mandibles;   feet  black. 

Total  length,  al)out  seventeen  inches;  wing,  eight  to  eight  and  a  half;  tail,  three 
and  a  half;  bill  to  gape,  two  and  a  half  inclies. 

Hal).  —  North-eastern  coast  of  America;  N.'wfoundland,  Labrador,  and  south  in 
winter  to  New  Jersey;  also,  arctic  regions  of  Old  World. 


THK   HAZOR-nrLLED   AUK. 


f  the  nl)8ence  of  liind 


)ni.  Iting.,  III.  (1835) 


565 

;;;;"■-.-,«  orti.  m,..,i.  s.«..  :■;.;;."  rr"  r'".  '^  ""■""^" ">•  "-"-i 

"'"l  HX.KO.  of  ,,h„.,„^,,.  "•"'"  "'  the  eyo,  ,vhi..|.  is  pn.s..„,  i„  „„  „^4 

tions  of  ,1,0  c„„ti„„„t,  tI,o    c^  !/','.''''''''"'■''"■'■'' I'"'-- 
W..,  ...  Uoso,.i„i,„  .,,0  ,.,.oo,n,„  CZ^l.^l^^:'^ 

deep «.,„.«, ,i,,.i, ,-,, ■„„,:■';::.,  ";,;.''"' ''"™ ""■■'■ '"-" ■■" 

cl«e  .ogotl,er,  and  tl,o  „.„  arc  l,.,„  i  7        "'  '"""^  "''  ""■">  li« 
or  l..-«kc,,  .,„„o,,  ,,.i.,..,l  a  »„!  lo  of  •  °"  """"  ' "  "f  ('"''Wes 

-..vcn,  ,o„  n„d  ,i,o,„  :r,.,:::ff'° '''•;'' "'■"■•-■■'"I 

fi-oio  eacl,  other:  „,„|  ,|,,,.o,  „,  '  !  ''°.  '';'""'"'  °'  "  fc"  inoLes 
..poo  .h»m._liko  Duck,.  f,r  oxnl',".'  '°''"''''™''''='^«i'«" 
.«k,eacl,l,o-,l.s„u„I,„lo,„st,n„-L',T       •    ■""'""'  ""  ""  '■■^1'™«1 

■i..i..^ - coHoo, ,v„i,,, , :,,  : I'';;:: t.r.  ^^"«'- "-?. 
.ion.  „.o  A„k  «.,.,o„.  ,„,,  „.,.,,,  ■;,:,:;::.  ■■' ,;-m«;..  ».-.«a. 

...-.'  generally  p,„,Mvln,o,  „,,,„t|„  ^"^  •=»">■  "*  '"'•'"■■'.  »..-I 
I'laek:  ll.e«po„™.„e,alh  ^„„",  "'"'   <'»'l<-l>.o.vo   or 

'■*■'  °"'"--.  ^«'"/'-  ^ .ea:?;;:^:::;::;:!/""^^- 

..>ot.    I„  a  large  „„,„  ,er  of      .,      ■'■"  """  ^"""■*  «'""»- 


666 


OnSITHOLOflY   AND   OOLOOY. 


5      ' 
t     1 


tho  principal ;  yet  tluH  ia  not  invariuhlo,  and  it  cannot  bo 
dcj)ondod  upon  us  a  suro  moans  of  idontilication. 

MORMON,  Ilmokh. 

Mormon,  \\.iM\r.r\,  Prod.  (Id  1),  383. 

(Ji'iicnil  form  nliort  iiiiil  lionvv,  and  iidiiptcd  to  nwininiln);  nnd  dlvinff  with  Rront 
fiicility,  anil  to  liriiiti'd  (lovvcr  of  tlij^'lit ;  hill  Hliort,  t'lilirrly  liorny,  iiiiicli  tlattcricd 
laterally,  and  nearly  as  high  ai*  hma;  liicaHiiri'd  on  the  nidi'  ohli(|ni'Iy  niRosa  and 
laiiiinatcil;  a  |iortion  at  thu  haso  iiunctidatcd;  noMtril  in  thu  edge  of  and  in  thH 
second  lamina  of  tho  upper  niandihlc;  winj;  mndorato  or  rather  weak,  tl'^l  quill 
usually  longest ;  tail  nhort;  legs  short;  toes,  throe  only,  directed  forwards,  rather 
long,  fully  webbed)  eluwB  large,  curved;  plumage  very  (K)ntpaeU 

^     MOHMON   ARCTICA.  — /%er. 

The  Puffin. 

Alcn  orrlica,  LinniruR.     Sysf.  Nat.,  I.  (17nO)  211, 

Monnuit  nrclica,  Iljiger.    IVod,  (IHll),    Aud,  Orn.  Biog.,  III.  106. 

Dkhcuhtion. 

Smnllcr  than  cither  of  tho  preceding,  but  much  resembling  the  two  last  spccicii 
in  form  and  color;  a  short,  blunt  process  over  each  eye,  and  a  narrow  transverse 
process  under  it;  bill  mu<h  flattened  laterally,  horny;  upper  numdihli!  composed  of 
two  parts,  that  at  the  base  narrow,  and  covereil  with  minuter  spots  or  graindations 
terminal  jiart  with  about  four  curved  ridges  at  its  base,  and  two  or  three  curved 
descending  grooves  near  the  end;  under  mandible  smooth  at  base,  and  with  about 
three  grooves  near  its  end;  wing  rather  short  ami  weak;  tail  short;  legs  and  feet 
strong;  throat  black,  uniting  with  the  sanus  color  of  the  upper  parts  of  the  body; 
large  space  on  each  side  of  the  head  and  entire  under  parts,  from  the  throat,  white 
frequently  tinged  with  ashy  about  tho  eyes;  entire  ujiper  ]iarts  (and  throat)  brnwn- 
ish-black,  darker,  nnd  fre((Uontly  dear  black  on  the  back;  head  above  frerpientlv 
(lark -ashy,  sepnrated  by  n  well-delined  liiH>  from  the  black  of  the  other  upper  parts; 
bill  and  feet  orange-yellow;   sides,  under  the  wings,  ashy-black;   iris  light-blue. 

Total  length,  about  twelve  nnd  a  half  inches;  wing,  seven  and  a  half;  tall,  two 
nnd  three-qnartora  inches. 

Tills  bird  is  not  uncommon  on  tho  coast  of  northern  New 
T'^iifiliuid  as  a  winter  visitor,  H'l  •■)  low  brood  on  tho  islaii'ls 
aliout  Grand  Monan.  The  nost  i'  ]'l!<;cd  in  a  1  i»r  ow  in  tho 
earth,  dnj?  by  tho  birds.  "  in  all  tho  burrows  that  coniinu- 
nicato  with  each  other,  a  round  place  is  scooped  out  on  one 
side  of  tho  avenue  in  tho  form  of  an  oven ;  while,  in  those 
which  are  single,  this  ovonlike  place  is  found  at  the  end. 
All  the  passages  are  flattish  above  and  rounded  beneath,  as 


TIIK   (iUrLLKMOT. 


607 


work  f„  ,i  ;:  ,"  '-'^  '."  "";  """"'  I'o'-     «»t niH 

also  s.t  altonwUoly  on  (l..i,  ,,.,,:,,,,  ;'.,',  .^ '^^  ["«*••  thoy 
'"oro  i.MlMMtnouHly  i,,  this  00. m.  ""''''  ""^"^^'"« 

''-••'-•  at  the  ,.n-Lv;';Zr;;t:t''''^ 
'""--'"•to;  hut  it  soon  l.oco,ncs^;lj     ;       t  •'  "/  ''"'' 

'^'•i--  to  ho  a  ,li.,y  yollowis  - "hU       It!  r    "'"•""''  "'"' 

2.48  to  2..0  inches  I.  1 J  n  :         :;^^-^^^ 

their  groatost  hmulth      Sn„  ,.*  ^'^''^  "'^''  '» 

marked  „„c.  being  a,,„„t  Twol  fi^„7  "'"  '"■"'""•"™'  "'' 


?  the  two  Inst  upecies 


UUIA,  MoEirmNo. 

w.u.t  .o.np..e...  poi,„...,,':,s;::,;-  :::";::■;;;:•  --  •<•••«.  .traf,ht. ... 

;•""-;•-•..,.  sh,.,,  p„i,„.„,;  tail  short,  ;     ;;::7r' :""  ^'-'  -'-t-iiko 

••'"  ""••'•'e  to.,  compressed,  toes  rathe    lot/       J     V;,'    S'"""""  ^''"'•'"^ 
c'Tved.  '""*"  "'"y  webbed,  claws  rather  strong, 


-/., 


t7EIAGBrLLE.-/.„M„;;,. 
The  Guillemot. 


-';-7.^/'VA,ri„mp,.s.    S.vst.Nat.,r.(,7,v.)„o. 
^'•'"y/A  Audubo...    Or„.  l.io..,  m.  (KSr.)  ,48,  V.  627. 

r)i:scittPTio\. 

»...B  »,.,„,  „,„,  „i„.    ,„„„,„    „„,,,;; ,';"'''  ■'  "i»  >i.«  color  „r  ,„„  „„„„ 

■'"'■t.  -11  ..II..T  p.rl.  ,.f  „„.  „|„, ,    ,„,;  I         '  "'"«  •;•">  """"Wc  l.ro„-„l,l,. 

<>' <'•'_>•'.  t :  bill  1,1.1  ,   r";'™"  "'■•''-'''•*.  »-«l'  •  Srccfal,  ,|„,,e,  .,,,1 


568 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


This  .ipecies  is  pretty  abnudaut  on  our  coasts;  and  it  is 
said  to  breed  on  rocky  islands,  from  Mount  Docert  eastward. 
It  can  tlierefore  bo  considered  as  a  resident  of  north-eastern 
New  England  tlirough  tlic  year.  It  is  foinid  all  along 
our  shores  in  the  winter,  but  not  ia  any  great  abundance ; 
and  it  is  less  common  on  the  shores  of  Massachusetts,  than 
on  those  of  Maine.  Like  the  other  Auks  and  Guillemots, 
it  is  an  expert  diver ;  and  it  obtains  its  food  by  diving  and 
swimming  beneath  the  surface  of  the  water :  this  food,  as 
with  the  others,  consists  principally  of  fish,  which  it  seizes 
in  its  bill,  and  swallows  whole.  It  also  eats  various  small 
marine  animals  and  their  eggs  ;  and,  like  the  others,  picks 
up  such  floating  garbage  as  may  come  in  its  way. 

The  eggs,  three  in  number,  are  placed  on  the  l)aro  rock 
or  earth,  usually  in  fissures  of  cliffs  or  almost  inaccessible 
ledges.  These  arc  exactly  ovoidal  in  form,  and  vary  in 
color  from  a  ])ale  greenish-white  to  a  pure  pearl-white. 
This  is  covered  irregularly  with  spots  and  blotches  of  dif- 
ferent shades  of  browni  and  black,  thickest  at  the  great  end, 
where  they  are  usually  almost  confiuont  into  a  ring  aromid 
the  whole  egg.  Besides  these  spots,  there  are  others  of  an 
obscure-purple  scattered  over  the  ogg,  that  appear  as  if  they 
were  beneath  the  outside  of  the  shell.  The  dimensions  of 
the  eggs  of  this  species  vary  from  2.40  by  l.GO  inch  to  2.25 
bv  1.50  inch. 

-j  URIA  uOMVlL  —  Briinnic/i, 

The  Foolish  Guillemot;   the  Murre. 

Uria  lumvia,  Briinnich.     Orn.  Bor.  (1764),  27. 
Colymbus  troile,  Linnreus.    SyM.  Nat.,  L  (17CG)  220. 

Description. 

BiUrathL.  long,  pointed,  compressed ;  fnmi  the  lateral  feathers  hmirpr  than  the 
tarsus,  or  than  the  inner  toe  and  chuv;  a  narrow  line  under  and  hehind  the  eye 
dark-ln-own;  head  above,  and  entire  other  upper  parts,  browuish-hhuk;  sides  of  tlie 
iiead,  and  entire  under  parts,  white;  sides  of  the  body  under  the  wImr  with  trans- 
verse stripes  of  ashy-brown;  under  wing  coverts  white,  seeondarv  .juilis  tipped  with 
white;  bill  blaekish-brown,  paler  at  base;  tarsi  and  feet  dark  grJenisli-browii;  sum- 


>i 


THE    FOOLISH   GUILLEMOT.  559 

Total  lengfh,  about  fifteen  i„c       1  ;   "         ''' ''    '°"' ''''"'  '''''^''^ 

/M.-Kortl.er„  coasts  of  I   rJa    S    '"r"'  "  '"""  *"'''  *"°  '"'=^68. 
omenta,  iSorthern  Europe  and  Asia. 

This  bird  is  rather  common  on  our  co-mf  Jn  fi        •  . 
months,  and  is  said  to  breed  in  sm  1  """'*'" 

Bay  of  Fundv      A.  n  n  ,  ^  numbers  about  the 

-ion  of -l^at;^      id^KT^'  '  ''''-'  ''' 
abnndant  on   the   coast  of  Tn  f''''' ^"^^  ^' ^'^^'^ 

islands,  it  breocriavim     '!•    f'''  ''^''''^  °"  *'>«  ^^^^ 

''The   Foolish   Giiilloniot  lavs  nnlv  ..     •     i 
e».e  With  .,,„  TJ,ick-l,i,w  C.  2  „ ^1.^    ^'S     ?='  "■'''°"  '^  ""' 
;..y,  .wo, and  ,1.0  Black  G„i,U.„,         ..i:,,,""  't"':""^  ^"^ 

LMcks  ,1,0  fea,„o,.  f,.„,„  i,.  ab,,„„,o,,  ^-fch     1,,  ,T1  ^'f  °"'  '■»™' 
u  roundish  si):icp    inst  l.„.,.„  ,  ^  ^^"  ^''""'^  over 

f-™  nvo  baro  ,„„.,  ,o,„„,„o„  ,,  „  .^.^'r^Z  '"■C7'C 

(•iiillemot,  to  cover  lioi- fl.iv.-:.  „  ■■  J<^'ti"tis.      Ilie  Jilack 

^»  a  .-e :;,::  :;:,;,:":::o:x,::;,;:.""™ '"""  -" »'  ™- 

same  rock  mav  ronfn;,.  o  .i ,  i^i^ifistent ,  and  the 

jv.iv  luaj  toniaiu  a  doen-oreon  oo^v  n-ifi.  i 


Hi 


570 


ORNITHOLOGY  AND   OOLOGY. 


.  '•    I 


I     r  ■; 


u, 


fl! 


and  almost  oval  ones.  The  only  means  of  perfect  identi- 
fication of  either  of  these  species  is  to  visit  their  breeding- 
places,  and  secure  the  parent  birds  on  tlieir  nests. 

The  dimensions  vary  from  3.50  by  2.15  inches  to  2.95  by 
by  1.78  inch.  ^ 

DEIA  EINGVIA.  -  Brunnich. 
The  Murre. 
ITria  ringria,  Briinnich.    Orn.  Uor.  (1764)  28. 
Ui-ia  troile,  Audubon.    Orn.  Bor.,  III.  (1835)  142. 

Dp:scrii>tion. 
About  the  size  of,  or  rather  larger  than,  the  preceding;  bill  rather  lonrr  nointod 
compressed ;  fron,  the  lateral  feather,  longer  than  the  tarsu^,  or  th^t  e  i^r'toe    , ,' 
claw ;  .v„,gs  rather  short ;  tail  very  short ;  a  narrow  line  of  white  eneircling  ami  r  n 
ung  backwards  behind  the  eye  and  over  the  ear;  head  and  entire  upper  parts  drk 
brown,  w.th  a  ,„,ge  of  ashy;  under  parts  white;  sides  with  transverse'stXes  of 
aslu-brown;    under  w,ng  coverts  white;    bill  black;    feet  greenish-black-   timer 
plumage,  w,  h  the  throat  and  all  other  under  parts,  white;  the  white  line  behind   1  c 
eye  frequently  wanting,  and  different  in  length  in  specimens 

tail!";::!  !;:£:  "'""  """""  "^"^^'  ^^'"^'  ^^^"^"  "■"•  ^  '-'^  *"  -«•>'  -ehes; 
JM>.  —  Northern  America,  Northern  Europe,  and  Asia. 

The  same  remarks  are  applicable  to  this  as  to  the  Foolish 
Guillemot.  It  is  northern  in  its  habits,  and  is  more  abun- 
dant on  the  coast  of  Maine  than  farther  south. 

* 

JIERGULUS,  Ray. 

3ferf/ulus,  Ray,  Syn.  Av.  (1713),  125. 

Small;  general  form  short  and  heavy;  head  rather  large;  bill  short  thick-  nnner 
mandd,le  curved,  slightly  ,„bed  on  its  edge;  mo.nbrane  ot' the  rounl '  H,'  ^ 
..ngs  moderate  or  rather  short,  pointed;  first  ,uiil  longest;   tail  short;   ^1^,1 

MERGULUS  ALLE.-/./„„,r,«. 
The  Little  Auk ;  the  Sea  Dove  ;  Dovekie. 
Aka  alle,  Linnwus.    Syst.  Nat.,  L  (1700)  211. 
Uria  alle,  Audubon.    Orn.  Uor.,  IV.  (1S3S)  304. 

Deschii'tiox. 
Small;  head  breast,  and  entire  upper  part.,,  brownish-black,  inclining  to  fulid 
nous  on  the  head  and  breast;  tnuler  parts  from  the  breast  white;  a  nZ,Hi     ' f 
whtte  over  the  eye,  secondaries  tipped  with  white;  scapulars  edged       t^    Wi, 


i.t-rp 


THE  LITTLE    AUK. 


571 


a  half  to  eight  inches; 


.  n»-;','- r  ■ "'-'  •""  "^ .  ^'"  I.*,  w,,.,.  .„  .„, .  ,.„  ,.„,  .„  .^^ 

One  of  the  most  abundant  „f  ti,,  ,  .  , 

the  nortlMvosten,  part  of  Mai         V       '^""°f  ^"'""''  ™ 
habits.     Wilson  says--  "'  '""  "'"«  »f  '^ 

BHti™  i^of  ft  t  ;:ri:i^  ''■'  ^  --  '■'*->'  -^ «» 

ovci  as  far  as  S,  tzL  I  '"■'™''  P"'''"  "'  ""^  N»rth, 

san.o  kind  of  food      ^00',  ^f'  "'"^  f^'"'''  "I'on  the 
fo...  the  oircu,„st;nco  :  S    ^  ^  ,r,,r"  "  "» /-'"■^. 
lays  tn-o  bluish-wln-te  o™-  V       "","  ''"''""ger  of  ice.     It    • 
It  flies  quick,  and  t„;^:,"r;'  "'"','  *""»"  "'  '"»  P'^-n. 
h.to  the  water  wl.ilc  s!l  ,1'         'I     ™^''  '^'"''"S  "'  ^11 

;-« better  on  t,,e,::;;;::^^^^^^^ 
'i::::;::K::;;;i::r::rT^''^^''-'"^ 

bird,  and  ma,  be  eaji;  taken."       '^    "  "  ""'  ''  "''^  ™% 


NOTES. 

«,.oeios.  n,ade  at  ^^^,^X:X:T  '""=  '"-="°'"« 

ANSEE  HYPEBBOEEUS.  -Common  on  the  St  In. 

uii  uie  at.  Lawrence  in  tiie  f'lll 
BEENICLA  CANADENSIS  -Thi,  • 
north  an.l  west  to  hrec.l      Thov  l>r     i"  ,"'"' ,'"""  '-'""'n'on  species.    It  -roeg 

A  few  breed  in  Anti^:  ti;  a^^ltt?;;:''"''^  ''"  '''  ^'"-"'"^^  <''  I'"-'" 
Labrador.  '  '"-''*-^'''  "'^■>'  '^^e  to  be  found  breeding  iu 


^ ,  ( 


hvi 


572 


ORNITHOLOGY   AND   OOLOGY. 


ANAS  BOSCHAS.  —  Uncommon. 

A.  OBSCDRA.  —  Tliis  duck  is  very  common  here.    It  is  truly  a  northern 
species.    It  breeds  in  tlie  swamps  adjacent  to  this  city. 

DAFIIiA  ACUTA.  —  Common  in  spring :  a  few  visit  us  in  the  fall. 

NETTION  CAEOLINENSIS.— Common.     Breeds. 

QUERQUEDULA  DISCORS.  —  Uncommon. 

SPATULA  CLTPEATA.  —  Uncommon. 

MARECA  AMERICANA.  — Tiie  adult  bird  is  seldom  seen  in  this  latitude. 

AIX  SPONSA.  —  Sometimes  common.    Breeds. 

FULIX  MARILA.  —  The  young  are  abundant  on  the  St.  Lawrence  during 
autumn.     They  breed  north-west  of  Quebec. 

F.  AFFINIS.  —  Occasional  specimens  are  shot  at  Sorel  and  Three  Rivers. 
It  is  more  abundant  in  Western  Canada. 

F.  COLLARIS.  —  Occasional. 

AFTHTA  AMERICANA.  —  Occasional. 

BUCEPHALA  AMERICANA.- 
in  Canada. 


•  Very  common  in  spring  and  fall.    Breeds 


B.  ISLANDICA.  —  Adult  birds  are  occasionally  shot  on  the  lakes.  Tiie 
young  are  abundant  on  the  St.  Lawrence  during  the  early  part  of  winter.  I 
liave  seen  the  adult  on  Lac  k  la  riiilij)  in  July. 

B.  ALBEOLA.  —  Common  in  spring  and  flill. 

HISTRIONICUS  TORQUATUS.— Common  on  the  north  shore  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  A  beautiful  adult  male  was  shot  in  the  spring,  on  the  Montmo- 
renci  liiver,  near  Quebec. 

HARELDA  GLACIALIS.  —  Occasional  near  Quebec.  Common  on  the 
upper  lakes  in  sjjdng  and  fall. 

PELIONETTA  PERSPIC.TLLATA.  —  Very  conmion  in  the  fall  at  Milld 
Vac'lies,  lower  St.  Lawrence. 

SOMATERIA  MOLLISSIMA.  —  Common  on  the  north  shore  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.    Breeds  on  islands  in  the  river  below  the  Saguenay. 

MERGUS  AMERICANUS.  —  Common.     Breeds. 

M.  SERRATOR.  —  Conunon  in  spring  and  fall. 

LOPHODTTES  CUCULLATUS. —Adult  is  occasionally  seen.  Young  visit 
the  St.  Lawrence  in  the  tiiU.    Breeds  on  the  margins  of  northern  lakes. 

LARUS  ARGENTATUS.  —  Common  on  tiie  St.  Lawrence  in  spring  and 
fall.    Breeds  on  our  mountain  lakes. 


NOTES. 


t  is  truly  a  northern 


IS  in  the  fall. 


■en  in  this  latitude. 

St.  Lawrence  during 
•I  and  Tliree  Rivers. 


573 


LAEUS  DELAWARENSIS  —  Tim  ,r 

CHROICOCEPHALUS  PHILADELPHIA  -Tl.o 
nion  ,„  the  St.  Lawrence  duri„-r  autumn      J    , 7°"""  °'  ""'  ^'""  "--^  ^0™" 
to  breed  on  the  inlands  of  the  sl  We'ce  ™"'    '""^  ''"^  «"W-sed 

STERNA  WILSONII.  — The  vn. 


ig  and  fall.    Breeds 


on  the  lakes.     The 
\y  part  of  winter.     I 


|:1 


rtli  shore  of  tlie  St. 
ing,  on  the  Montmo- 

Common  on  the 

tlie    fall   at  Mille 


li  sliore  of  the  St. 
iuguenay. 


\ii\ 


seen.     Young  visit 
lorthern  lakes. 

ence  in  sjiring  and 


i! 
If 


INDEXES. 


iir 

ill 


t,TM7-MlJ 


I    .  i 


MI  I 


mm 


INDEX  OF   COJIMOxV  NAMES. 


A. 

American  A^•osfit,  436. 
Hittfi'ii,  40,'). 
(.'rct'lKT,  l!)(). 

(ioldliiidi,  288. 
( )sprfy,  55. 
liJivt'ii,  355. 
Swiiii,  480. 
^N'iil«iM)ii,  499. 
Woddcoek,  426. 
Auk,  Little,  570. 

l.'iiz(ir-l)illc(i,  5(54. 
Avoset,  Aiiicricaii,  430. 

B. 

liald  Eajflc,  51. 
ItaldpaK,'  Duck,  400. 
Jfaltiiiioi-c  (tWolc,  348 

|!arn,,v's(i,,|,l,.,,H.v,.  Duck,  511, 
li.'lted  ^lll^,^li^lu.,•,  12-). 
JJitterii,  AiiiiTican,  405. 

Least,  403. 
iJiackbinI,  Cow.  330. 
<  'row,  352. 
l.'eil-wiiijced,  341. 
T.1     ...      ""■<ty,  350. 
Ulueliird,  175. 
HI  lie  Jay,  3ii4. 

.SiiowMrd,  314. 
Bobolink,  335. 
Itraiir,  485. 
Jiiill-head  I'lovcr,  413 
IJiiiitiiijr,  J!laek-llii„ated   307 
Hunting,  Cow,  330. 

lleiislow's,  306. 
Snow,  206. 
Iliiti'lipr-hird.  268. 
iiuzzard  Hawks,  34. 

c. 

Canada  Flycatcher,  247. 
Giio.'<c,  483. 
<ii"onse,  378. 
Jfiy,  aw,  372. 


37 


Panvas-hack  Duck,  607. 

<,<in;liiia  Dove,  375! 

<  at-liinl,  172. 

<V(lai--l)in|,  265. 

''jiiit,  Vellow-l.reasted   200 

:  ..•■tterer,  Itoi.einian   264 
'lie  wink,  ,332. 
<'liick-a-i|,.,.,  j«2. 

(;iiininey  Swallow,  116 

^oot,  Ainen'caii,  476 

]|iifter-l,il|,.d,  520 
»>  liite-wiii;,red.  518. 

Cormorant,  Coinnion,  534 

f:ow  Hlackl.ftS:'^'^^'""'  '''• 
Cieeper,  .American,  llio 
Cr..sshi|,jl;! J  ^;;Y'^\ ''''"- 201. 

<:-wiiia,S!!;:;:S"^'j'2"3. 

'low,  ('(11 ,1,^  35y 

„     ,     i'MK  363. 
tiiekoo,  lilack-l.illed,  85 

r„„i  „      \,';""w-billed,  83. 
'  iK'koo.s,  82. 

t'uilew,  i:s(|ii|m,,„x,  460. 
iliidsoniaii,  4(J7 
I-"ilK--liilied,  466. 
Sliort-liil),.,!,  467. 

'-uriew  baiidpij.fr,  443. 


D. 

'>ipper,  525. 

l>iver,  (Jrcat  Xortl.orn,  555. 

I.eil-throatcd,  557. 
[  «'ve   Carolina,  375. 
"iivekie,  57o. 
Duck.s,  lliver,  487. 
,^     ,       Sea,  503. 
Uuck,  Haldpate,  400. 

Jfarrow's  (iold'en-ove  511 
;^'    il-uk-lu.ad,  564.'    "• 
HIack,  28,  4!>(). 

liiitHe-liead,  514 
l!iittei-||,,||.  514. 
Canvas-back,  507. 


■II 


III 


[-577] 


hA 


KhI  i 


im 


JAi 


678 


Duck,  Dipncr,  514,  525, 
iMisky,  2K,  out. 


INDEX   OF   COMMON   NAMKS. 


Kidcr,  522. 

(•a<l\vall,  4!i7. 

'iiildcii-i'vc,  512. 

Iliiilc(|iiiii,  515. 

Kilif;  Kiilrv,  52;i. 

Little  lllmk-ln.|i,|,  606. 

I.oiiK-tiiili'd,  51(1. 

Sliilliinl,  4h7. 

Old  Win.,  510. 

I'illtjiil,  4!i2. 
lii'd  llciid,  500. 

liiiddv,  525. 
Sciiiip,  504. 
.Scdtcr,  521. 
SiMith  Scpiillicrlv,  51G. 
N|iiHiiiliill,  4!it)." 
S|in«liill,  4112. 
.Smiiiiicr,  500. 
Siiri;  520. 
A'l'lvct,  618. 
■\Vliistlf-wiii{,',  513. 
AN'ood,  uoo. 


E. 

Knfflcs,  49. 
Eugle,  Itald,  51. 

•  ioldi'ii,  4!»,  81. 

(iniy,  51. 

■Wliitf-hcaaed,  51. 

F. 

I'ak'ons,  7. 

ImiicIu's.  2^.3. 

i'iiuli,  Ilay-wiiifced,  303. 

(irass,  :w.i. 

riiif.  2'jo. 

riii|)lf,  2S5. 

SiNi-sldf.  30S. 

Miarp-iairud,  .'307. 
Flicker,  105. 
I'lycatchor,  Acadian,  14.'J. 

Canada,  247. 

•  ircat-crotcd,  l.'Jl. 

(iri'cii-crotcd.  14;j. 

Least,  141. 

Olivc-sidcd,  135. 

IVwcc,  l.i.i, 

Tniill's.  140. 

Wilsim's  ltlack-<'ap,  240. 

Wu(k1  I'cwcc,  l:J7. 


G. 

fianriet,  Coniinon,  5,32. 
(jodwit,  lliiilsoiiiaii.  405. 

.Maililcd,  4o;i. 
(iiildfiiicli,  Aiiiciiciui,  288. 
Coiisaiiilcr.  527. 
Ciuusc,  Canada,  483. 


Goose,  SiKnv,  4S2. 
Solan,  532. 
<io>liawk,  22. 
Oivlic,  (  amlina,  602. 
<  ri'Mlcd,  500. 
Honiid,  501. 
I'icd-iiiili'd,  502. 
I>cd-ncckt'd,  55U. 
drecnlcts,  27o. 
•  inishcak,  I'inc,  283. 

L'osc-hivastcd   328. 
'•I'linnd  Iioliin,  3:t2. 
^iiousc,  Canada,  378. 
I'iinnitcd,  3^0. 
Kntlcd,  iiXH. 
,.  ...       '"^pnuc,  378. 
tiiiiilcniot,  Coninion.  507. 

I'dolish,  568. 
dnll,  llciiia|iartc"s,  543. 

<ii-cal  HIack-UKkuil,  540. 
Ilcnin^;-,  541. 
Kiltiw  ikc,  544. 
J..augliiny;,  542. 


II. 


irarrior,  40,  81. 
I  lawk,  iilii.k,  45. 

Itniad-winpcd,  40,  81. 

Cooper's,  27. 

l)iick,  7,  10. 

Fish,  55,  M. 

(Jos.  22,  M. 

(ire.it-looted,  7,  10. 

Marsh,  40,  M. 

M^lit,  122. 

I'iKeon.  10,  80. 

lieil-shiiulderi'd,  37. 

lied-tailed,  35. 

L'<]nj;-h-lejr;je(|,  43,  81. 

Shar|i-shinnid,  31,  81. 

Sparnjw,  10,  mi. 
Heron,  (ir.at  liliie,  401. 

(ireeii,  400. 

Ni^'lit,  411!). 
.'^no^v\•,  ,398. 
Hooded  Mer^i'anser,  529. 
Hunaning-bird,  Kuhy- throated.  111. 


I. 


Indigo-bird,  330. 


J. 


Jay,  nine.  304. 
Canada,  366. 


Kinff-bird,  128. 
KioKlisher,  Uelted,  125. 


KitfS,  46. 


hi 


(%<!■■ 


IKS. 


y,  4S2. 

II,  M'l. 
> 

liiiii,  Wi. 
I'd,  fttlo. 

III,  mil. 

Iiillnl,  mvi. 
iiiki'il,  f)i")U. 
(). 

ill!',  2S,1. 

isi-lnviiMti'd,  328. 
II,  ;W2. 
Ilia,  ;i"n. 
iiti'il,  .'iho, 

■(I,  iHH«. 
re,  ;i"8. 
illlllKlll.  f>()7. 

lolisli,  r.iin. 

rtr"s,  r(4:t. 

I.ick-baikuil,  640. 
.  r,41. 

^l',  '>44. 

ig,  o42. 


II. 


4.".. 

winded,  40,  81. 

■'s,  27. 
7,  llJ. 

r>,  M. 

1,  M. 

i'l'ti'ii,  7,  Hi. 
4ti,  M. 
122. 

,  l!i,  80. 
Mildcri'd,  37. 
IimI,  :)•). 

Ii'jr^'i'd,  4;!,  81. 
liimiiil,  ;il,  81. 

\\  I'J,  80. 
Ilic,  401. 
iOli. 
toil. 
.'WS. 

iscr,  029. 
Hiiliy-tliri)atod,  111. 


I. 


J. 


G. 


d,  125. 


I^'>';X    OF  COM.MO.V   NAAiKs. 


[-'TjIflMd  r.nn>rsp„r,  ;joo. 
'•""K,  .McadoiV,  ;j4y 
,  lit,  2110. 

'•••f'M'r  I.V.||,„||,  204. 

''"""•  <;'''■/"  ^'-'-flimi.  Mr, 
liL'd-tliiuaiud,  oG7. 

u. 

•Vnllmd  Dork,  4S7. 
•\'ii-.|,  ll,.,i,  471. 
i\'"'iiN,  l'oi|,|,.,  200 

i»lurru,  608,  570. 


N. 

^■'Wlit  Hawk,  40!i 

^"^^I..Ui,ii,.,„Coi.,H.r,80,308,306, 
Nuthatch,  I.',  ,|-h,.|li,.d.  188 

H  liitL-lu.||ii.(|,  187. 

o. 

"'•iiilc,  lialtimorc,  348. 
,,  ^'i-i|i(iiil,  346.  ' 

Oviii-'liinl  218. 

<'uls,  (io. 

<'»'.  Aiailian.  7".,  SI 
'I'lircd,  73,  81. 
<iivat  (;rav,  72.  8] 

Jl'-'ilt    llolillMl,  (J(l     ^1 

|''i"k,  7!i,  81. 
'■"ii«-vaivi|,  us,  81. 
iil^tlji'il,  U4. 
li'i'il,  (14. 


^'••"w-wlu.f,  7-.   ^x 

'^'■i' 'Ii.  04. 

NliiM-l-caivd,  70,  SI 
Siii.ivv,  77,  81. 
OystcT-n.lclu.r,A.,u.ri.an.43.. 


'■'Ill,  432. 


P. 

Part  rid  i,^os,  303 

!";!,T"'^-'  '''^'•'"''  3-3. 

J  '■<|i.  447,  4;-,0. 

'  ''"Vl,  l.carh's,  ,r,-,2. 

IVwfc,  133. 

'';'"■'■••.  W I,  137. 

loilan.p,.,  .\,„.,i„.,,„   ^.,, 
IVoil,  Wild,  373.     '    "^• 


I'iiii'  Finch,  200. 

<iru>l)|.ak,  28,1. 
""vor,  Haiiniiii'H.  4f5o 

'•/ark-l.i.|li,.,|,  ^23 

';ic|,|,  4,i,|, 

'■"'di'ii,  41,') 
Kill-d,',.,.,  4,V,_ 

,',  'I"";,',  421. 

'^.V!!''l"iliMa(cd,  419. 
>»H«i)ii  s,  4i>j. 

iiiii  I,  Alvii,.  r,oo. 
I'urpl,  Fioc),;28a 

Qoa-hird,  409  '" 

t^'"iJ,  Virgioia,  3U3. 


11. 

Ifail,  (^iroliiia,  474 
<'la|,|M.|-,  471.' 
■Warsli,  471 

\";i;iiiia,  472. 
,.         >'■"""■,  47,5. 

|>cil  Mait,  249 
lii'dpoll.  Less,,;,  294. 
,,.  Alia  I V  295," 

;"i«--oi',k,  419. 
''Obiij,  Ju4, 

S. 

•Niiidi'i'liofr,  440 
«"'"l|'ilHi-,  l!a,Vi-ani-s,  4C0. 


lio 


'lilliai-lc's,  44(5. 


1,    .,.,■•■  •'   ■'•  •HI). 

Jf'"  -l-icastcl,  402. 
<  "iliw.  443 

J''",v-I,a,k,  440. 
J;«'.'lst,  447,  478. 

I'ltiiral.  44,0. 
i  oipl,,.  442. 

'''■'i-lin.kc,|",  444 

^'•■mpaloiatcd,  450. 

S,..i..|  f  •!■     ''^'"'"'•d.  458.* 
^«<'i.t  laoMnv,.,  251. 

Need-caters,  283 
•;jli<ld,ake.  AioeWian  ,507 

So:l-:;,di::^!i^"'-"'-".  268. 

'■^•^ii'i,  Areti,.,  ws^_ 

Foioaiine,  538. 
•^kviai-|^s,  280 

f^li'l'c,  KiiM-hvi'i^  429. 

i;'''':'"™-'id",  438. 
iiiililll.  44(1 

.-,  ^^  i'mhi's.  4')o 

Jsiiowbird,  314. 


579 


580 


INDKX   OF  COMMON   NAMKSt. 


w 


J     k1 


Bilow  Iliintiiii.',  2(m. 
ftpumiw,  <'lMppiiit;,  ■''20,  372. 

I'ii'lil,  Mill. 

Fiix-niliirt'd,  :Vir,, 

.Siiviiiiiiali,  Mi, 

Siii.w,  an. 

Simn,  Ml. 

Swiiiiii).  .')2.'). 

Tlir,  :!I7. 

Whiti-cl-iiwiic'il,  ,')09. 

wiiiic-iiMiiiiicii,  an. 

•  Villi.w-niiigt'il,  a05. 

Stiikc-ilrivcr,  M^'t. 
Stiii'lini^s,  ;i:|.'>. 

S Ill-  Diiilt,  fidO. 

Bwiilluw,  lliiiik,  2">S. 

Kuril,  2''>'l. 

('Iiiiniicv,  lit). 

ciiir,  a.vi. 
KiiM',  2r,ti, 
N\liili'-I«'lli(.<l, '2:.7. 
Swan,  AiiiiTiiaii,  -iho. 

T. 

Tiiimi.''cr,  S<'nrN'f,  2r>l. 
Tfiil,  llliii'-wiiiLrril,  4i»'>. 

(irfl'll-willj;cil,  i'Xi, 
TrII-tilli',  4nl. 

Ttni.  Antic.  .■)4S, 
('a-^|iiiiii.  r)4ti. 
I.rii>t,  ■.  l!i. 
.Aliii^li,  ."M'.. 
Sli<)|-t-iail<il,  fi'tO, 
Wil.iiii's,  'i-ltl. 
Tliistli'-hiril.  2^^'. 
Tliiii..|icr,  llniHii,  l(i3, 
Tlirii>li,  Hiipwii,  in.'J. 

(liililcii-rrdwiii'd,  2J8. 
lli'iniit.  MH 
Oliv.'-liiickcil.  1.'.2. 
Sdii--,  I4ii. 
Swaiiisdii's,  ir)2. 
'law  IL\-,  I.')ii. 
AVatcr,  2io. 
M'ilMin's,  |-,0. 
Tillavli.  2IMI. 
'lilliiii'i',  I^:i 
'riliiiuiix..  I!la(kia|i,  1^2. 

Iliiil>(p|i'<  llav,  isr,. 
'I'dwiii'c  r.iiiitiii;;,  ;!;i:i, 
'l'iii'ii>liiiif.  4:!4. 
'I'vraiit  M_\ cuti'liurs,  128, 


Viij;iiiiaii  l'aitri(lf,'c,  3113, 
Virco,  Itliii'-hi'aclcil.  277. 

Ili'il-cyiil.  270. 

Solilarv,  277. 


Virco,  Warliliiijf,  27.1. 
\Vliiti'-(..vi.il,  275, 
Y«llow-tlirouti!il,  278. 

w. 

WiirMcrN,  ino. 
Warlil.rs,  Wmxl,  201. 
Waililcr,  lta,v-l.i(.H«|i.||,  22S. 

Illacklpiiniiaii,  227. 

llla('k|Mi|l,  2.1.'). 

Itlaikthroatnl  llliip,  224. 

Itla<k-tliiiiati.il  (irccii.  2llil. 

Itlack  mill  Yellow,  2;lH. 

Hliu'  Villiiw-liaiki'il,  2113. 

Mliic-wiiip'd  Vi'llow,  212. 

<'a|)i'  .Ma.v,  240. 

(|iii'stiiiir-i.iili'.|,  231. 

('olliii'ctiriit,  2(iH. 

'iiililiii-wiiiniMJ,  214, 

llocpclfil,  24"). 

iMayiiiplla,  23H, 

JIan  land  V.liow-tliront,  206. 

I'lipiii'iiiiir,',  2ii7. 

Na,..|ivill(.,  2ir>. 

Oviii,  2IH. 

i'iiic-ir,.|.|ij||jr^  220, 

I'rairii',  241, 

'l'i'iiiii'ssi.(',  217. 

Wipriii-nitiiiit,',  211. 
"^'I'llipw,  2.')7. 

Vi'llinv  li'i'dpiill,  240. 
.  Villinv-iiiiiipcd,  220. 

>»  jllppOdlwill,   liu. 

\Vidni.„ii.  Aniuricuii,  409. 

^\illct.  4a2. 

\\(p(.diip.k,  American,  42il. 

>> I  I'ewii.,  i;i7, 

NVc.udlRcker,  Handed  'llirep-toe.!,  Of,. 

Illaik-jpaiked    Tlir.'c-toed, 

I'piwny,  NO. 

<iip|ilin-\viii;;ed,  103. 

Hai?-v,  S7. 

I'iii'iited,  !i!l. 

Iteil-lnadi'd,  102. 
-  Vell(,\v-I,e|li,.d,  Wi. 

»  rcM,  (i(pldcn-civsted,  17o. 
ll(Pilse.  III.'). 

I.iiii;;-lpi||ed  .Marsh,  l|i2. 
I>nlpy-crip\viiei|,  I7,>.. 
SliiPi't-lpilleil  .Mar>|i,  I!i4. 
\Vinter,  177. 


Y. 

Yelliiw-ltird,  28S. 

VeliiPW-lpieasled  Cliaf,  209. 
yclliiw-llMoat,  .Marvlaiid,  205. 

1  ellinv-i|.f;s,  (' u' 4,-,5. 

lellinv-iegs,  (ireater,  4G4. 


s. 


"»f,  27.1. 
<'.vi(l,  275. 
-tliroutL'il,  278. 

\v. 

oil,  201. 

Iniii«lc'(l,  22S. 
I<l>iiriiiiiii,  227, 
U\,iM,  'i:t.'l. 

k-throal.il  llliic.  2'J4. 
k-tliriPiiti'd  (iri'cii.  'itiU. 
k  1111(1  Yellow,  TAH. 

Villiiw-lmcki'il,  20;). 

winjicii  Vriiow,  aia. 

.Miiv,  •24(t, 
lllllt'-.»iilr(l,  231. 
c'ctinit,  2(lH. 
■n-wiiinfil,  214. 
fil,  2("). 
loliii,  2W. 

Ifiiiil  Vtllow-tliroat,  206. 
iiirif,',  2ii7. 
villc,  21o. 
,  2 1 H. 

■I'l't'iiiii/,',  22i). 
f,  241. 
'SMfc,  217. 
i-i'iitiri>;,  211. 
V,  2;)7. 

V  Itc'clpoll,  240. 
v-iiiiii|ic(l,  220. 

lU. 
it'iiii,  400. 

riiiiii,  420. 

17. 

iidcd  'riiici'-(()(.(i,  Of). 

iiik-liinkcil    TliiTt'-tooil 

'4. 

"iiy,  f(\. 

Miii-\viii^'(.(l,  105. 

ivy,  S". 

I'iitc'd,  !iil. 

l-liijidi'd,  102. 

Iinv-lii'llicd,  '.»). 

L'-Mi'd,  170. 

5. 

■<!  Aliirsli,  lii2. 
viiimI,  17s. 
d  .Mar-h,  I!t4. 
■7. 


'llMt,  20(1. 
in  kind,  205. 
null,  4"i5. 
tir,  454. 


IXBKX   OF  ,S(,,.;XTr,.u.  NAME.S. 


A. 

Aocipitcr  Pooppril,  27. 

•^[■'diinis  Hartramh,,,  400  4»8 
^■Ki,'mlitt.,sni..|..dns,.i-i|       '    "• 

"""ilijialniiirns,  410,  47« 
viMiidiis,  41;-,.         ' 

,r  •  .1  ^^ ''""iiiins,  4IH. 
^KKioflum  (•Mn,.,>,.,.n.s,  y,,,-,. 
.      ,  .        linaiia,  204.  ;)7i 

^K''l"i"sl'lh..ni,.,.n.s,a4l   y72 
^) ;x.-|ionsu.  5.10,  572.       ' 
■Alandidii',  2N0. 

Mra  Idi-da,  504. 
-ViiinhMlnmins  .andaiiitMs,  .Id?. 

AiniH'li.s  ,.,.droii,ni,  20.-,  ;j7i 

K'liTnlns.  204,  ;i7o 
Ana.s  liosili  IS,  4S7.  572.      ' 
oliMiini,  2S,  4f-0.'fi72 


■Aiiii;uM„niiis  v,Mii,.ni.s,  mi ';,,;: 

^J'lmkiCanad.MMs,  40   ir  ' 

Aivliil.iii,.„|„^.„pi,„_  4:),  h{. 

^)nl,.a  |„.|-„dia.s.  400  477      '  *"• 
^r,U^tt,^  (xdis  4(i.!. 
-\-tiir  alii,a|iillMs  22   S] 
A.vlliya  .Vni.ricin.i.  5(Mi,"572. 
vaili.-nuiia,  5o7.' 


U'TiiicIa  raMa(l..nsis.  4N,3  571 
„  liiviita,  4.S-,,        ' 

J'oria^a  iinilHllns.  ;),ss   ;!.„! 

ia'lm,tnsc,„,i„ii,  7„.     '*'^- 
;;"'"'  »  iiwniaiuis,  on,  si 
Hiitq)liala  allMola,  514,  .^72. 

Anicncaiia,  5l27'i7'> 
u  .      ,         '^liiniliia,  511,  ,-,V'' 

liniittiis,  ;i7. 
.■''■'i>i>^.vlvanicim.  40   M 
l!ut(nuk..,  viiv.smis,  4U0. 


""•""•".•.•|ilml'nsa.;i..iM'i,:'4'!i 

^•'"T-.ni,ris,,i„!,;!;'!;;;!;;'!;^;;'.6«,67a. 

'>■|HIrl.ds,.ni„.,4.|,^  ,     '• 

'  '-•""'•"•lis  pidnstris,  11.2. 

,.,        ^  '^li'llaiis,  11)4 

<  laniatoivM,  ,-,,  i^,-,    ' 

''"'•'•.VKiis.Ann.nnmn.s,  K.3. 

'>"ii"plitlinlnMis,  85 


An..rhv„..,,„       ,^,,,  ..  (;„lK',i .l::;!!;- j, ^'■ 

A    ;,;:'::;;r::::^;'!::'!!'^:        r'"^- "-::'-'Ho,ni  557. 


'"iiinalns,  5.m,'57,x 


/ .      .  '""  nam-*,  ! 

'  "'■t,.,Mls  l.nivalis,   l.'i.V 

/.  .  ^'l''■||^'.  l.')7,  :](;i] 

''"•vnsAnM.ii,.„nns,;i57  ;i7- 
laniiv.irus.  :i:,:,  :',7'>~' 
."^>'ini«iis,  ;!i;:),'      "' 

'"'"'•""■"'"- I ln,s|„ui,;ino. 
(',,t,  1     •      •  l''''--''''inM.s,  ;iu5. 

,"'.Wr  npana,  25.M)rn 

,"l'i'.l"ina  CniHiln.  ;i,so' 

•^'"'^"■"^"■'l^ nVaMa;201.;i7,. 

[,  "Mos,,,.,,  ,,.,,„.!,,,,  :),•„-,,■./'  >• 

<  .  <..nim.s  niMain.,  ;ii;4,  ;j72 

<  ^«iinsAnuT,Vi,nn.s4bu 


D. 

pafila  arnfn,  402  57.> 

likirklinniia.,  227,  ^r,9 
tanadcnsis,  224,  yuu. 
<'a.><taiii';i,  228'   ;!7(( 
iN.n.nata,  220^  yti;.; 
di.^ciilnr,  241. 
iiiacnidfu,  2.'j.«,  ,370. 
[.-.,s|] 


fjl 


582 


INDEX   OF   SCIENTIFIC   NAiAIES. 


Dendroica  palinaruin.  240. 

Ppiinsylvuiiica,  231,  370. 
pimis,  22<J,  370. 
strinta,  233,  370. 
tif;i"ina,  240. 
viiviis,  222,  3G9. 

E. 

Ectopistes  miffratoria,  373,  396. 
tinpiiloiiax  Acadiciifi,  143. 

iiiiiiimiis,  141. 

Tniillii,  140. 
I'.remopliila  corniita,  2f<0,  371. 
I.riMiiK'tcs  pctriliciitiis,  450  478. 
iM'ismatiira  riibiila,  625. 
Euspiza  Americana,  327, 


R 

Faico  anattini,  7. 
Fiilica  Aiiiuricana,  476,  478. 
riilix  alfiiiis,  5(15.  572. 
marila,  504,  572. 


G. 

r.alt'oseoptes  Caroliiipiisis,  172. 
(■alliiiaj,'!)  U'ilsoiiii,  42!i,  478. 
(.ianibL'ttii  Oavipcs,  455,  478. 

iiH'laiKilciica,  454,  473. 
darzctfa  (■aiiili<li,-siiiia,  308. 
Gfotlih  pis  i'liiladi'lphia,  207. 

trit-has,  205,  300. 
(■rallatores,  5,  397. 
Graculus  carlio.  534. 

(lil(il)liiis,  535. 
Gitiraca  Ludoviciaiiu,  328,  372. 

II. 

Hii'mafnpus  palliatns,  432. 
Halia'tiis  Ii'iicciccpliahis,  51, 
Harclda  Klatialis.  516,  572. 
llaipiirhyiuliiis  nil'iis,  163. 
lieiiiiiiuhopliaj;a  cliPsdiitera,  214. 
piTc^riiia,  217. 
Jiiniis,  212. 
,.  ,    .  ,  riificapilla.  215. 

Hflinitherus  vcniiivDriis,  211. 
liiriuido  liiioliir,  257,  370. 

hniTconim,  254,  370. 
lunitroiis,  254,  370. 
Histrioiiiciis  t(.n|iiatiis,  515,  572. 
llydroihclidiin  plinnhca,  560. 
Ilylatdiniis  pilcatiis,  99. 
Ilypotiiorcliis  coluiiibarius,  16,  SO. 

I. 

Icteria  viridis,  209. 
Icterus  IJaltimore,  348. 


Icteriiis  .spurius,  340. 
Insessores,  108. 

J. 

Junco  hyemalis,  314,  371. 

L. 

Lams  arp;ontahis,  541,  572. 

inariiius,  540. 
Limosa  fedoa,  463. 

Hiidsonica,  465. 
Lophodytes  cucullutus,  529,  572. 

M. 

irarrorhamphus  griscus,  438,  478. 
Marcca  Americana.  499,  572. 
Mclanerpes  erytlirocephalus,  102. 
.>Ielaiictla  velvetina,  518. 
Melospiza  melodia,  321,  372. 
l)alusti-is,  323,  372. 
Mergus  Aniericaniis,  527,  572. 

sen-ator,  526,  572. 
ftferguliis  alle,  570. 
Miiniis  polygldthis,  167. 
.Mni<ifilta  varia,  201.  369, 
Jlolotlu'iis  pecdris,  339. 
Mdi-nion  arctica,  506. 
yianliiis  crinitus,  131. 


M 


Myiodiuctcs  Canadensis.  247. 
niitnitws,  245. 
pusillus,  240. 

N. 

Nalatores.  5,  479. 
"Nettion  Carolinensis,  493,  572. 
Nuinenius  lioivaiis,  469,  478. 

Ilndsdniiis,  467,  478 
-^        ,         longin.stris.  466. 
iVyctale  Aeadiea,  75,  81. 

I.'iclianlsduii,  75,  81. 
Nycfea  nivea,  77,  81. 
Nyctiardea  garden!,  409,  477. 

o. 

Oidcniia  Americana,  521. 
Oporornis  agilis,  208. 
<»rfyx  \irginiaims,  393. 
Oscines,  5,  145. 
Otu.s  'A'il.sduianiis,  08,  81, 


Pandidn  Carolincnsis,  55,  81. 
I'arnia  Americana,  203. 
I'ariis  atiieapillns,  182,  371. 
lliidscjuiciis,  185,  371. 
I'asscrceliis  >avanna,  301. 
rasserella  iliaca,  323,  372. 


^!'il  I  U'la  iinii,,!-.  42tJ  47H      '    '°' 
Pn^oidesaivtiViis,  j;!'    '"• 
,j.  'lii'siitiis,  Do. 

i  iciis  pubosfciis,  SE(. 
.     villosiis,  87. 

1  ''-■'•■troMmnes  l,.pp„Mi.„s,1/,m 

I'ojiceps  con..,"::;;'!:;:^ '"«•  ^^i- 

cn'stntiis,  060. 
Pn.Hl,     ,  ^'■'•'''^■W'"a,  559. 
1'     .;'''"'■'  '"""•■'■PS  562. 

l'orzu„aC,.roli„a,474,4;V      • 

j:-.nep;:;S;;;i;;irfeo*'^-^'«- 

Q- 

Querqi.pJiil,,  .liscovs   4.,5 
Quiscalus  vcrsicolo,-  yo2;372. 

R. 

Rallus  cropifaiis,  471. 

•'.'•Wins,  471.  ' 

,,  ^  "'wiiiiaiiiis,  472  47s 

Ijaptoi-es,  4,  0.         '*'-.«' 8. 

K'a.sorus,  5,  378 

s. 

Sayornis  fi,sp,„^  jgg^ 

f".'iuru..  m„-,„.a,,i„,„_  2IS,  .3,59. 

^!''  |Pl'.'i«-a  n.ti,.i||,,,  24i,'  .Tr  ' 
^.'••''"'.sialis,  175,  3,;,r  '■^"^• 
J""u  (■aim.l,.,i,sis,  ikC.s;, 

'  -•"I'oliiii'iisjs,  1.S7 
^""""•"•i"  Ili<si,„a,  522   570 

Spafnia  ,.|vp,.aia.  41.    o72 

«>P''!eliain„iiri,„ia,  317  371 

pii-'illa,  3l!»,  371      ' 

sociiiij.,  320,  37 1" 
SquataroJa  Jldvcfica,  422,  478. 


I^VDEX  OP  SCIENTIFIC  NAMES. 


583 


Stercorarius  parasiticus,  538 

Sterna  araneS"'""'''''- 

'••■ispia,  549. 

'iviiata,  549. 

nian-oiira,  548. 
„  .  "  il.-oiiii,  546,  573 

S  ropsWas  int.rprtvs,  43/478 
Ntnsorcs,  4,  no  '        " 

Sf.inu.lla  i,;,i^n„,i,  ,3.,3_ 
f^iila  l)as.siiia,  532 
^"'•i.ia  »|„|,,,  79^  SI. 

Smlilnn"'-'  ^'■""l'"'>"atn,  452. 
-■"'""» 'iiK'n'mn,  72.  M. 

ni-'bulosum,  73,  81. 


b"  -I'lmia,  var.  Americana   44i 
i^""!i|)artii.  446  '  "^• 

cainitus,  440,  478 
"laciilata,  478. 
iiiiiniinia,  442,  478 
■^;i!|an|iiata,  443. 
,,,  .        .  "  ilsoiiii   447   47a 

i.-ogio.ivt...sa.,i,.„;;',':^''«- 

T-,..    V  ''.vi'iiialis,  197  on 

iurdustnsn-sc.ns.  150  .369 
"iWat.wiiis,  i.ii 
'iMistcliiiiis,  146.' 
J'allasii,  148,  3^9 

TvrannusCaroli.,ou.i.s,-i28,3G9. 


,478. 


IT-  U. 

Una  frr^•|Io,  567. 

'V'^'a,  56S,  573 
'•"<«'via,  570. 


V. 

Vireo  flavifn.ns.  278. 
Ki^ii.s,  273. 

"^'."^'•■'"iiacciisis,  275 
I'liya.yiis,  270,  371.  ' 
sflitarius,  277 


z. 

li'iHdplirvs,  3U9,  371. 


I 


